Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste is the deputy leader of the Government. It is his responsibility to deal with the situation, where he can say enough is enough, that we do not want to continue with a situation where the people of Ireland have to sit and endure the sad spectacle of the Taoiseach of the land being decimated by his own words in front of a tribunal of inquiry set up by this House. Now is the Tánaiste's opportunity to demonstrate that political loyalty is fine and well but there is a time when public duty and the good of the people have to be put first. The choice is the Tánaiste's. If he does nothing, he condones these standards and he becomes an accomplice. His leadership would then be epitomised by weakness and collusion instead of leadership and courage.

In the interests of the Irish people, before the next avalanche of damning evidence comes from this tribunal, I urge the Tánaiste to go to the Taoiseach on his return and tell him that the time has come for him to move on, and for the Tánaiste, if he is the one who is chosen by his party, to restore a Government that is concentrating on working in the interests of the people and the challenges our nation faces. I would like to hear the Tánaiste's response as to what he intends to do.

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