Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak for the third time in six months. On resigning from Fianna Fáil I undertook to support the Government when it acted in the public interest and I have done so in good faith even when some controversial measures were proposed. Sadly, the moral authority of the Government has been fatally damaged by recent events for which it is responsible. The compensation pay-off to the former CEO of the Financial Regulator, the failure by the Minster for Finance to read 120 pages of vital information regarding the bank at the epicentre of the country's financial woes before deciding to nationalise it, the cynical and callous decision to end the provision of special class support to children in most need of that support, and the refusal to include the Judiciary in the pension levy are just some of the most blatant examples of unjust and unfair decisions by this Government which have shocked me and resulted in widespread anger and dismay throughout the nation.

The anger of the people is mixed with confusion, fear and uncertainty about what the future holds for us and is threatening to become explosive as divisions emerge between the people and the politicians, the unemployed and the employed, and the public and private sector workers. Unfortunately, the Taoiseach and Ministers continue to confuse unpopularity with leadership. Leadership, to be successful, must be based on trust, openness and acceptance of responsibility. The actions needed to save us from economic disaster will be possible only if there is vision, fairness and clarity in the recovery plan and the assurance of competence in its execution.

There has been a very good discussion here for the past 20 minutes and it is a great shame some of the best brains in Dáil Éireann are on opposite sides and spend so much of their time and ability working to outmanoeuvre each other rather than putting together their collective ability in the national interest. There is often such co-operation at Oireachtas committees which produces great results, but we rarely witness it in the Dáil. If ever there was a time in our history when such leadership was required, it is now, but it will not happen under current arrangements. Politics as usual is not an option. We need new politics where politicians on all sides come together to share ideas and power for the common good, as has happened in this debate. I propose that the Taoiseach convene a summit of the leaders of all the political parties and Independent Members in the House to try to achieve consensus on a three-year national recovery and social solidarity plan to be agreed by the social partners and put to the people in a referendum.

See this speech in context