FIANNA FÁIL had gone wrong when it became the “party of the racehorse owner’’, party backbencher Ned O’Keeffe claimed in a valedictory address to the Dáil.

“We have more racecourses in trouble than we have ghost estates,’’ he said.

“They will soon be like ghost estates because there are too many racecourses and we do not have the money to back horses, feed horses or train them.’’

Mr O’Keeffe said that if Fianna Fáil “came back from the sport of kings to where it was founded, we would have a successful country and this Government would win 50 or 60 seats at the general election’’.

Mr O’Keeffe, who has represented Cork East since 1982, is retiring from politics.

Speaking during the debate on the Finance Bill, Mr O’Keeffe described Independent TDs Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath as the “three musketeers’’. He suggested Mr McGrath, who was sitting behind him in the chamber, should “go to Dunnes Stores to get better value’’.

Mr McGrath said: “The deputy might get better value in Dunnes Stores himself.’’ Mr O’Keeffe said Mr McGrath’s shopping list extended beyond his arm, adding that he did not believe the people of Tipperary South expected it.

“In Kerry, Jackie Healy-Rae is rambling up and down the street telling us what to do. The Government has been a victim of those Independents who try to tell us what to do,’’ Mr O’Keeffe added.

“I never want to see that again. I never want to see this Government, or any government, held to ransom by people like that for petty matters like footpaths, schools and bits of roads.’’

Mr O’Keeffe said he had worked under four leaders, “including Charles J Haughey, the brightest and the best’’.

He had recently observed a poster at Leopardstown races, which read: “Bring back Haughey, clean up the mess.’’ He had also served under Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, enjoying every day of his time in the Dáil.

“I did not get high office because I did not behave myself, which is a tragic situation,’’ he added.

“Blind loyalty is ruining every party and organisation in this country.’’

Mr O’Keeffe also paid tribute to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, adding that an overall majority might be within his grasp.

Padraic McCormack, who is retiring as TD for Galway West, which he has represented in the Dáil since 1989, noted that he intended retiring at the last election but changed his mind, receiving a bonus of another three and a half years in the Dáil.

“Most of my colleagues who are retiring have told me they felt a great sense of relief after they made that decision,’’ Mr McCormack added.

“My circumstances are slightly different because I am not a voluntary retiree.

“I have not experienced that sense of relief, and I have a sense of sadness as I leave the Dáil.’’ Mr McCormack said that was the way of politics.

He had tried to make a contribution over the years, he said, adding he hoped that he did not insult too many people.

“If I said anything to upset them, I apologise for that. That was my style.’’