Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate and thank the Fine Gael party for the manner in which it tabled the motion and approached the debate. If there is one thing that party has made absolutely clear it is that it sees this primarily as an opportunity for political grandstanding and not about the future governing of our country.

Last night the deputy leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party confirmed on national television that they do not believe the Government will lose the confidence of this House, either this week or any time soon. However, they have ensured that two days of our proceedings are being dedicated to a motion they neither expect nor want to see succeed.

We are seeing in this debate another demonstration of the biggest divide in Irish politics - between those who think only of campaigning between general elections and those who believe we have a responsibility to govern between elections. Having just toured the country giving party political speeches-----

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