Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

People are aware that we face a number of major problems. The figures published yesterday indicate that the abyss over which we are teetering is even deeper than previously thought. People expect the Government to show leadership. In recent months, however, those opposite have been behaving like bewildered bystanders instead of displaying the courage, conviction, imagination, innovation and leadership expected from the Government.

The worst aspect of the current recession is that people increasingly believe that not only do we face serious economic problems but also that the Government is not up to the job of dealing with such problems.

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