John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

My ministerial colleagues have eloquently outlined the Government's successful economic policy and how they are dealing with the responses to the reports. In the few minutes available to me, I propose to discuss the character of the Taoiseach because he has been the subject of a well organised strategy to attack him as an uncaring, incapable politician and poor leader. When one considers the many aspects of his ministerial career, this is clearly not the case.

For the past two years I have had responsibility in the Department of Health and Children for dealing with people with disabilities. The Taoiseach is credited by all sides with introducing a multiannual investment programme. This decision will be to his eternal credit. Having lived in the same constituency as the Taoiseach for the past 40 years, I know him well. It is pity Deputy Quinn is not present to respond because I resent his attempt to attach the tag of "corrupt" to the Taoiseach and link it with Oliver Cromwell.

The Taoiseach has the full support of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party on the basis of his honesty and integrity as a politician. As my colleagues noted, he has at all times gone out of his way to place the country first and pursue policies that will safeguard our economic solvency. In doing so, he has risked his popularity. It is, unfortunately, a truism that politicians often take the soft option. That is not the case with the Taoiseach.

I must repudiate the allegation that the Taoiseach has committed economic treachery. This accusation has never been made previously in the House and does not stand up to scrutiny. If the Governor of the Central Bank, Professor Patrick Honohan, were permitted to survey and inspect the banking and economic policies of other countries, I am certain there would be the same level of opposition.

There were suggestions during today's debate that the Taoiseach had little success in the Departments in which he has been Minister. One could say the opposite to that. I have already explained about his major involvement in the multi-investment programme. I reiterate the point made by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, about his total involvement in promoting reform in the health service. I heard criticism today from Deputy Kenny about the levels of suicide and that there was little investment in mental health. These matters go unnoticed when things go right. The Government commitment, proposed by the Taoiseach, on the reform of mental health under A Vision for Change, has seen this year alone €45 million committed to mental health and a further €50 million each year ongoing. That clearly indicates a Taoiseach who not alone has a serious grasp of the economic realities, but also has a great understanding of the difficulties on the social aspect.

It goes without saying that I have the greatest pleasure in supporting the motion. I might say that if I had two more votes I would cast them also.

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