Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Let us consider social partnership. A picture of the Labour Party leader is hanging from Liberty Hall on an 80 foot banner fluttering in the wind, while Fine Gael promises public sector reform. How will they square that circle? That is why people did not buy into the Labour Party's view of the world. That is why I warn them not to be so arrogant as to think the election result provides the political arithmetic to allow the Opposition to form a Government.

Who is Deputy Enda Kenny to tell the Government it does not have a mandate? Before the local and European elections he flirted with Sinn Féin. This is the same man who said releasing the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe would undermine the office of Taoiseach. Political expediency is one thing but blatant hypocrisy of that order is another.

It is not enough for the Government to say the alternative is inadequate. We are confident that we are doing the right things. Fine Gael is tired of hearing we are taking tough decisions, but we are doing so. While canvassing, I heard on the doorsteps that public sector workers think we are being hard on them while those in the private sector think we are not being hard enough on the public sector. That might indicate that we are taking the fairest decisions for the future of the economy.

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