Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed)

 

4:00 am

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

-----the revenue to pay for our day to day bills. The Government wishes the situation could be different. The decisions taken by us were not easy and we did not like taking them but we had to act and will continue to act in the national interest not for short-term electoral purposes.

This national effort we are making is beginning to have an impact on Ireland's international reputation and our ability to borrow money which is necessary not just for economic recovery but also for day to day expenditure. The measures we are taking will not immediately alleviate the current hardships of the recession for the man or woman in the street as this will take a good while longer.

Our decisions have contributed to the Government's unpopularity. When we took these measures we understood that the people would be angry but we believe that they are the right and necessary decisions. We heard from the electorate last Friday. We have to work harder and more effectively to lead Ireland to recovery. We must explain better to people what the strategy is, every day. As a result, these elections were the first that radically impacted on local candidates' chances of being elected.

I agree with the Opposition in one respect. It is true the electorate returned a clear and loud protest against the economic situation our nation currently faces. Why would it not do so? We understand that. It is not easy. Unfortunately for the electorate and all of us, despite what the Opposition might say and wish people to believe, there is no painless way to guide us through this economic recession. The Opposition sought to benefit - and largely succeeded - from the current economic problems that face the Government and the country. It has benefited from a protest vote but has not received any mandate to lead, no matter what it claims. My Opposition colleagues are around the House long enough to know that these local election results would not transfer directly in a general election.

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