Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Minister for Finance is the acting head of Government this morning. He has parcelled up and despatched the Tánaiste somewhere and that is fine but he is the acting head of Government. He has the authority to commit to a debate, not to come in here as some disinterested bystander and say he would welcome a debate. He is the Minister for Finance and the acting head of Government but one would think he was not in Government when this disaster was caused. He was at the Cabinet table, not just a member of Government. He was the super junior Minister at the time.

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