James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister of State agree that our bonds are trading at 7.2% whereas England can borrow at 3%? Every day the Government stays in power is costing the State money. I say to the Government Chief Whip who is a democrat, the Government now holds a synthetic majority in this House which has been abused to keep it in power. It is depriving the people of their rights and democracy. The Government should stop wasting money. We should have no more court cases. At least the Chief Whip should tell us there will be no more court cases on the unheld elections. The best thing to do, as my colleagues have said, is to go to the country and have a general election. We should give the people their say and the markets the certainty they want.

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