Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to this motion of confidence in the Taoiseach's leadership. I have no confidence in the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, in Fianna Fáil or the Green Party in the leadership they are providing for the country. As we speak approximately 500,000 people are unemployed. They are looking for jobs and looking for a way to contribute to their families and communities. They are looking for leadership from the Government to make this happen and are getting none of it. For months and years we have been pointing out the lack of action and ideas from the Government on job creation. I spoke on many occasions on the potential for job creation within our tourism, agriculture and food-production sectors to develop and grow in these difficult times. I have highlighted on numerous occasions the skill and expertise we have among those people who are forced to sign on. A stimulus package should have been created and brought to the House by the Government to help those 500,000 unemployed people.

Policies to promote job creation and lead people into starting their own small businesses are non-existent. The county enterprise boards which have provided a significant leadership role in allowing many small businesses to start up are starved of finance by the Government.

The recession has had a devastating impact on families in this country. People are struggling with money and lie awake at night in the fear that some of them will lose their homes. That is not an empty fear but real for thousands of people. It is not good enough for the Government, led by the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen and including the Green Party, to stand by and see so many people frightened in their homes, and fearing for their families and children. We can laugh and sneer in this House from time to time but I am opposing the motion because the Government has stood idle and not acted to help the thousands of people leaving our shores. Many young people are emigrating from every corner of the country, which is a national disgrace. People should not say they have the interests of the country at heart when this is allowed to happen.

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