Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Many people watching the proceedings of this House are worried about the future of their jobs, the value of their homes and the difficulties that lie ahead. While our views on how to restore confidence in this country's economic strategy may differ, we all want the country to be able to move forward. Fine Gael has consistently outlined its constructive views to the Government. The least people expect in this forum is some sense of mutual respect. Those whose ideas differ from one's own deserve to be respected. The Taoiseach's outburst yesterday did little to build confidence among people outside this House, including people overseas. If he is serious about building a national consensus on the recovery of the economy, he should have a rational respect for the views of other Members of the House. It may well be that he wants to run the Government his way. There has been evidence of that over the last six or seven months. It was the Taoiseach's way to introduce the budget in October. It was his way to say that the Estimates he had produced were on target — they were off target by €2 billion in one month before Christmas. It was his way to intend to take medical cards from elderly people. It was his way to attempt to withdraw an allowance from those who are intellectually challenged. That was his way.

As this country faces a war for economic survival — the clock is ticking for Ireland — no cohesive strategy or plan has been produced by the Government. If the Taoiseach was running this country as a company, with the population of Ireland as its workers, and he was borrowing to pay interest, we would be out of business. If that is his way, I disagree fundamentally with him. It is time for the Government to examine the reality of the situation we are in. Some 60,000 jobs have been lost since I first called for the introduction of a programme of recapitalisation. The Taoiseach said it was not necessary — that was his way at the time. When I suggested that Anglo Irish Bank should be taken over, the Taoiseach said it should not be. When I said it should not be included in the recapitalisation programme, the Taoiseach said it would be business as usual. The Taoiseach's way is not working and has not worked. I suggest it is about time that the Taoiseach, in his capacity as leader of the Government, ensures that it stops dancing to the tune of developers and big bankers.

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