Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Deputy Brian Lenihan has come in at a time where the construction industry has come to a shuddering halt. He must clean up the mess left by his predecessor.

The Taoiseach has arrived at a position today, on 2 July, where tax receipts have collapsed; where he is facing an €8 billion deficit; where unemployment is rising at the highest rate in Europe; where the cost of living is at the highest rate; where, unfortunately, our economy is winning the losers' league; and the Taoiseach has presided over that. His Minister for Finance has stated that he is now in the unfortunate position of having to clear up the mess — the first time, I might add, that Fianna Fáil has ever had to clean up its own mess.

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