Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Taoiseach as ucht teacht anseo inniu. In the three months since we last met circumstances in the country have changed utterly. There have been thousands of job losses. Unemployment has increased by 42% to more than 300,000. Jobs are not being protected and are being outsourced to other countries. The tax shortfall has increased from €3 billion in July to more than €5 billion in September. The stock market is down by 45%. The property market has collapsed. A major pension problem is about to surface. In our health services we are now faced with an undetermined number of other misdiagnoses in cancer cases from Cork to Donegal. A report states that the Dublin Port tunnel is not safe. There is potential lead poisoning in water pipes in some areas in Galway city. The cost of living has risen by 50%.

Do these matters not concern the Taoiseach to the point where he should agree that on the first day this House meets after its summer break it should discuss the economy and the circumstances that now affect every person in the country? Does he accept the premise outlined by the Minister for Finance two weeks ago when he said that the people collectively chose this course of action? Does he agree that his Government now blames the people for the circumstances in which we find ourselves? Does he blame the people for the musings of Ministers, where one wants to increase the top rate of income tax, another wants to introduce domestic water charges and another wants to introduce third level college fees? The reasons are that the Government failed to heed the warning signs outlined by this party and others in making arrangements to deal with the situation that applies. While it is not to blame for the international financial crisis, it is to blame for the wastage of hundreds of millions of euro of taxpayers' money. Is the Taoiseach prepared to allow a proper debate over two days in the House or does he accept the premise outlined by the Minister for Finance that the people collectively chose this course of action?

See this speech in context