Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

This constitutes a significant reform. Hence, a unique situation has arisen early in the life of this Dáil. A senior Minister and his Department have overseen two disasters in public policy in rapid succession. Many Members suspect that the road safety strategy was rushed out to draw attention away from the Shannon debacle. If this was the intention, it has rebounded badly on both the Department and its Minister, Deputy Dempsey. The end result of both policy disasters has been to let down tens of thousands of our people, first in the mid-west, and second throughout Ireland. In baseball and Californian law there is a precept, namely, "three strikes and you're out". This Minister has missed twice and for the sake of the people, he should not miss a third time.

See this speech in context