Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

People are sophisticated enough to see through it. We accept that we had a bad election but the Labour Party does not understand that the people of Ireland know that the alternative Government, such as it is, is incoherent. There are two Oppositions in this Parliament, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. In the previous Dáil the Mullingar accord set general principles and approaches. That is gone and there are now two Oppositions. I suspect that Deputy Kenny, when he rashly decided to table this motion of no confidence, was afraid Deputy Gilmore would table one first. So, the debate on the Ryan commission report is delayed. It is naive and disingenuous to suggest it is the Government's fault that people are bringing a petition to the House today, knowing the promised debate on the Ryan report will not take place until tomorrow.

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