Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is the lack of front line services, as evidenced by the Government's gross incompetence, that has led to this.

The Taoiseach mentioned Deputy McDaid, whom I commend for his courage. In his letter to the Taoiseach, he said he believed that neither the ECB, the European Commission, the IMF nor the international bond markets have confidence in the Government. Dr. McDaid said that he is a citizen first and a Fianna Fáil member afterwards. However, the reverse applies in the case of the Government because it is the party first and the country second. The Taoiseach is now being threatened by the absent Greens also.

In my time in this House I cannot recall a situation where the Government of the day had more unfilled vacancies than its working majority. The people are not being allowed to have their say.

See this speech in context