Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Currie freisin as a cuid ama a roinnt liom. A Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh, when I came to the Seanad people told me how much better it was here than in the Dáil because there was a higher quality of debate. That has not been the case this evening and I have been very disappointed with the tone of this debate. It has been reduced, instead of focusing on the issue in the motion, to political mud-slinging and point-scoring.

I do not accept that the Government is out of touch. Every one of us lives in our community, talks to our neighbours and people in our area and seeks to help them all the time. I have the privilege as well, in my professional work, to deal with people across Dublin and the problems they have. Nobody is as in touch as we are in terms of dealing with people and I reject the notion we are not. As for party records, I will stand over the record of Fine Gael, its history and its record in government, especially over the last number of years, seven days a week before I stand over the record of Sinn Féin given the criminality it has defended across this island and the violence and intimidation it has wreaked in communities throughout the island. I will not be lectured by Sinn Féin on that kind of thing. The negativity its members project would suggest that this country is somehow a basket case when in fact if you look at the record of this Government, it has defended ordinary citizens. We are not talking about the wealthy.We are talking about people in average income brackets. People on the average income in this country pay the top rate of tax. I will not apologise for seeking to make those people's lives easier than they are at the moment. I will not apologise for saying that we should be putting in place a package of measures to ensure that those people who collectively pay the bulk of tax can continue to go to work. We must continue to make it worth their while to go to work so they can bring home money to feed their families and pay their expenses as we all would like to do.