Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

They have rejected it by three quarters; almost 75% said "No" to the Government, its ability to sort out our country's problems and its continuing in office and "Yes" to change.

It is time that the people were allowed to adjudicate on plans put before them by the various parties so they can make their decision, give their authority and give a mandate to a Government that can then bring stability to dealing with our public finances and facing the political problems we have. That should be a Fine Gael Government, which would create a fairer society, bear in mind what social justice is, develop an ability to deal with waste and tackle these problems in a fair and progressive way that the people would understand, unlike the mayhem caused by Fianna Fáil.

I note that today, an economic rating agency stated it may well be that an election is needed to give a new Government some moral authority; one does not have to accept the words of those abroad - the Taoiseach never does - but it is an observation. Ministers hide behind the ESRI report and state that it said we were on the right track. They do not read the full report where it is stated clearly that if the economic policies which were followed had not been followed we would be in a far better position than we are.

It is perfectly obvious that the Government intends to chase the economy down further with higher taxes on work and investment and cuts in front line services and capital spending. This is repeating the mistakes of the 1980s; the Taoiseach knows well, as a former Minister for Finance, that no country has ever taxed its way back to prosperity and this one will not either.

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