John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Norris charged the Minister in the Chamber yesterday of committing the grave error of splitting an infinitive and suggested that he required literacy lessons. I think some history lessons are need here because Senator Norris said all parties acquiesced in the destruction of this economy. History will show that along with Senator Norris, the Labour Party was the only party to oppose the bank guarantee on the night in question, which was one of the main contributors to the destruction of our economy.

The Fianna Fáil spokesperson said this budget represented a following of the late Brian Lenihan's four-year plan. If that is the case, it would be interesting to hear why Fianna Fáil has so vigorously opposed every measure the Government has been trying to implement over recent years, which culminated in a rather modest but significant and progressive budget yesterday. Fianna Fáil shouted and squealed when there were cutbacks, because it lamented them. It shouted and squealed when we maintained services, because it did not like the maintenance of services, and when we increased services in some areas, because that did not suit it either. Fianna Fáil is making a blatant and obvious political point out of this. The contribution of its spokesperson in the other House yesterday was greeted with derision. My colleague, Senator Coghlan, used the word "clownish" in regard to some of the contributions from Fianna Fáil Members in this House and I agree with him in that regard.

If this budget was an auction budget, how come its effect will increase GDP by 0.3%, which is certainly in the common good? Senator Daly lamented the fact that we are not spending enough-----