Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The motion put down by the Fine Gael Party states: "That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in An Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern." We have no hesitation in supporting that motion as we have no confidence in this Taoiseach and the Government because of the disastrous policies pursued since 1997. The Government has squandered the unprecedented prosperity of the economy and failed to build a fairer society. It has managed our public services disastrously and pursued privatisation policies that have undermined those services. Despite the assertions of other speakers in this debate, these are the principal reasons this Taoiseach and Government must go.

No previous Government had such opportunities, resources, capacity to plan for the future and wealth to distribute fairly. No previous Government had such a favourable climate in terms of the vibrant economy and the successful peace process. However, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, under this Taoiseach, have failed miserably to use those huge advantages in the public interest. For their fundamentally flawed policies and appalling management of our health services in particular, the Taoiseach and the Government deserve the censure of the Dáil.

The Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil colleagues have attempted to hide behind the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Progressive Democrats in an effort to shirk their responsibility for the gross inequality and inefficiency of our health services. Thousands of dedicated men and women work in those services providing excellent care to millions of people. However, patients and health care workers alike have been betrayed by Governments charged with vindicating the health care rights of the people.

Hospitals are obliged to cut back services to patients because of budgetary diktats from the HSE. The Minister, Deputy Harney, and Professor Drumm say that patients will not be affected by these cuts. On what planet do they live? The Government's plan to provide radiotherapy centres is in chaos, with the Minister and the Professor making contradictory statements. Before the 2002 general election, Fianna Fáil promised to end the two tier system of hospital care. It has done the opposite and reinforced it. Through its notorious private for profit hospital co-location scheme, it is privatising our public health system. The Government's disastrous hospital centralisation policy has cost lives; of that there is no doubt. Monaghan General Hospital is being used as the template for downgrading hospital facilities that were once the pride of their communities. The 24 hour accident and emergency service in Ennis is to be ended. I wish the people of County Clare well with their protest next Saturday.

The failure of the Government over the past decade in health is mirrored in housing, where it has presided over gross price inflation and a severe shortage of social and affordable housing, leaving thousands of families in hardship in all constituencies. Under this Taoiseach there has been a total failure to plan for growth, with children denied school places; a lack of balanced regional development and the decline of many rural communities; inadequate public transport; the sale of our natural resources such as Corrib gas; the betrayal of our neutrality and the use of Shannon Airport by warring powers and the privatisation of State assets, including Aer Lingus and Eircom.

The Taoiseach's testimony at the Mahon tribunal is an issue that has raised far more questions than it has answered. It has exposed contradictions and undermined the Taoiseach's credibility. The focus of the Government is being taken away from the serious issues I have outlined, as well as many more. Instead of doing their jobs, Ministers in recent weeks and today, the first day of the new Dáil session, are being trundled out to defend the Taoiseach. I have never seen a Government more badly prepared for the return of the Dáil. For all these reasons but primarily because of the failure to deliver quality public services, particularly in health care delivery, this Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and Children and all members of the Cabinet stand indicted and deserve to have no confidence voted in them this evening.

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