I was dealing with the Taoiseach's speeches both during and since the Budget of 1952. The Taoiseach told us about the unjust and unnecessary toll of taxation. He told us about the comparatively trivial reliefs. We heard, of course, about our austerity proposals. But, as I have already said, we have heard nothing from him since he resumed office to show that these things were wrong. If they were wrong then, the Taoiseach has since had the remedy in his own hands. The Taoiseach could have got his Government to rescind those taxes and do all the things he said should be done in order to right the position. The Taoiseach is, of course, prepared to make speeches; he is also prepared to sit about and take no action.
We have listened time and again to all the Ministers on our present financial position. We have heard a good deal of talk about the balance of payments. Deputy MacBride has been very vocal and some little bit of heed seems to have been given to his utterances in relation to the collecting and spending of our external assets. I remember when the Government floated their second last loan. We were told here and down the country that that loan was an indication of the confidence the people placed in this Government. The Minister had quite a different story to tell the other day when he said: "In December, however, the Dublin Corporation issue of £6,000,000 attracted little public support." Do the Government realise now that if the previous loan, which proved a success, was a vote of confidence in the Government, the failure of subsequent loans is a vote of no confidence in the Government? We were told that the last Government loan was not fully subscribed. We know that only 40 per cent, was subscribed and that the banks had to be called upon to put up the remainder—the banks that Deputy MacBride wants to wipe out of existence, the banks that have been abused by every member of the present Government, when it suited them to do so.
I do not know very much about this banking business, except in so far as I have to try to meet my bank manager the best way I can; but I would say that if one approaches a bank manager, it is not wise to go in with a hammer in one's hand and threaten to hit him on the head. The way to approach a bank manager, or banks, is not the way of wild attack. The way to create confidence in the people is not by way of attacking the banks.
When we in Fianna Fáil set out, shortly after coming into office, to build up industries here, it was not by attacking those who had money to invest that we hoped to achieve success in that direction. The task was a pretty big one. We had, first of all, to encourage those who had money to invest their savings in these industries. At the same time, we had to ensure that the workers employed in those industries would receive a wage which would encourage or induce them to remain at home, rather than go abroad. It was not by wild attacks on those who had the money to lend that we achieved the success we did. If this Government had to face that task, I do not think they would do so by attacking the people they wished to come to their rescue, should they fail to find the money elsewhere. They would not succeed by attacking the people prepared to advance the money. I want to move away from that now.