Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Rabbitte said that he was sickened to his stomach by the alleged collusion between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Fianna Fáil on this issue. At the end of the Taoiseach's speech this morning, Deputy Rabbitte again declared himself to be sick. I am extremely sorry that anything this Government says or does is having such consequences for as important a part of Deputy Rabbitte's body as his stomach. He said he was stricken again recently by the alleged failure of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, to live up to his high expectations. He did not say what part of his anatomy that affected, and I prefer not to speculate. The Taoiseach should examine his conscience because he again made Deputy Rabbitte sick this morning. I ask my colleagues to desist from any statements, observations, U-turns or betrayals, real or imaginary, that might have any effect on Deputy Rabbitte in the future because there is only so much any one body can take.

At the time of the Labour Party conference last year a journalist — I think it was Ms Miriam Lord — compared Deputy Rabbitte to a character from Dickens, Mr. Pickwick. She was talking about his appearance but now a much more substantial reality is conjured up because Deputy Rabbitte's most recent statement brings to mind the famous line from Dickens that Mr. Pickwick looked like a man who was much put upon; so stop making Deputy Rabbitte sick.

I conducted an experiment recently, a pilot project, something with which the Labour Party would be familiar.

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