Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Now, apparently, support from Independent Deputies for an alternative Government is a sign of terminal breakdown.

The Minister seems to have persuaded himself that only he has the divine right to rule in this country. Despite worsening crime figures, falling detection rates and his failure to reform the Garda, somehow he has an automatic right to be returned. The row within the Progressive Democrats would be a squabble in a shoe box were it not for the fact that one Minister happens to be in charge of health while the other is in charge of the criminal justice system. I am glad to see Deputy Glennon, who is the first to show of last week's 16 worried backbenchers. Deputy Johnny Brady was never part of that group.

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