Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Can I put it to you Taoiseach that in opposition and as leaders of the Opposition, you have a great opportunity to set the political agenda. Now I have had a look back over Leaders' Questions, Private Members' motions from the Opposition and, for example, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Fine Gael had 43 different Private Members' slots. You used them on a wide range of issues from accident and emergency, liquor licensing, animal remedies, health, greyhound doping, waste management, road safety - all important issues. But not once do I see a Private Member's motion, for example, on the issue of the system of regulating banks, on the increase in lending to property and construction or on what you might have regarded as excessive public spending. You had an opportunity to set the agenda and to challenge Government and to hold Government to account on these key areas, which were subsequently exposed, but you didn't use that platform, I submit to you during Private Members' or Leaders' Questions on a regular or consistent basis to pick up those issues.