John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

How can anyone have confidence in a Government which has brought the country to its knees? That we are in the midst of the worst crisis ever to hit the country is obvious to every citizen. For every action there is a massive reaction in every home. The crisis is especially obvious to all those who have lost their jobs. Employment is being lost in all areas, including the retail and restaurant sectors and small companies. Unemployment has increased by nearly 12% in County Sligo and almost 6% in County Leitrim in the past 12 months. The total number of unemployed in the two counties is more than 9,000. Each one of these unemployed persons represents a personal tragedy and wasted opportunity.

That we are in the midst of the worst crisis ever to hit the country is obvious from the scale of youth unemployment, a problem that diminishes us all. Not only does youth unemployment damage individual families, it corrodes entire communities.

That we are in the midst of the worst crisis ever to hit the country is obvious from the return of forced emigration. As in the past, it seems this Fianna Fáil-led Government plans to rely on emigration to solve the unemployment problem.

That we are in the midst of the worst crisis ever to hit the country is obvious from the fact that the standard of living of those lucky enough to still have a job is sinking by the day and people are struggling to meet their mortgage repayments. Mortgage companies have massive arrears on their books because people are defaulting on their payments. Homes are being repossessed and the impact is unbelievable. The cost of Government services and charges are increasing, while incomes are being squeezed by income levies and tax increases.

That we are in the midst of the worst crisis ever to hit the country is obvious in the slashing of public services and the closure of community based projects. Following the closure of breast cancer services at Sligo General Hospital, it is now proposed to reduce coronary care services at the hospital.

These issues and many others are the direct responsibility of the Government. The independent banking reports state clearly that the crisis is home grown and that the Taoiseach, when Minister for Finance, pursued policies that proved catastrophic for the nation. Throughout the developing crisis, the Government's attitude to the future problem was one of evasion. The Taoiseach continues to adopt the evasion tactic, informing us, for example, that no one told him the ship of State was heading for the rocks. I have news for him. As captain of the ship, it is his job to know when it is off course. It is a sign of incompetence to argue, as he does, that no one told him. This is the traditional Fianna Fáil style of leadership, with the Taoiseach the actor-in-chief in an artistic environment of the performing arts, make-up and all. His job was to be sufficiently competent to pull the brake as the ship of State headed for the rocks. To argue that he would have done so if someone had told him is the lamest leadership excuse I have ever heard. The country has no confidence that he is the man to lead us out of the crisis. It is time for the Fianna Fáil led Government to go to give the nation an opportunity to determine who can lead the country.

We have had appalling losses. Small companies have a major role to play in job creation, yet the Government has decided to provide €24 billion for a bank which is closed. Anglo Irish Bank pretends it is open for business, but it is not taking on new customers or providing money for existing customers. The Government should be honest enough to state the bank is closed for business. It has done everything bar place a "Closed for Business" sign on the door.

A sum of €24 billion of taxpayers' money has been invested and there is more to come. Despite this, the banks are not providing funding. Loans are provided with so many caveats to preclude them from being drawn down. If a branch states it is granting 100 loans a week, the question is: how many of them are being drawn down? The number of caveats attached to these loans means that perhaps ten of every 100 loans granted are drawn down. The banks are seeking double security, audited and retrospective accounts and various other figures. They are giving ten reasons to prevent companies from obtaining funds and enable them to build their cash reserves.

One must understand the catastrophic circumstances faced by employers who are finding it increasingly difficult to survive. Businesses must meet excessive requirements to obtain tax clearance certificates. Small companies employing fewer than ten people, the backbone of the economy, are on the rocks and being hounded out of business. When one considers what could be done with €1 billion in terms of job creation, it is astonishing to learn that €24 billion has been provided for a closed, zombie bank which capitalised Fianna Fáil developers. The politically well connected did not need accounts or a tax clearance certificate to secure a loan from Anglo Irish Bank. All they had to do was turn up to be given whatever they wanted.

People are in an unforgiving mood. When Minister for Finance, the Taoiseach had a critical role in propelling the building boom which was generating annual revenue of €8 billion. One did not need to be an economist to know this money would not continue to be forthcoming from the construction sector.

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