Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The response to both the questions on the communications unit and on www.merrionstreet.ie are a remarkable illustration of the U-turn the Government has taken on many issues. Let us take the example of the communications unit. The Taoiseach's response is a classic example of the cynical approach he took when he was on the Opposition benches. He attacked that unit for nine years and accused it of being at the heart of a political operation, and now he is reversing his position. Does he not accept that comments he made in regard to the communications unit were ill-advised and ill-informed while he was the Leader of the Opposition?

In terms of www.merrionstreet.ie would the Taoiseach not now ask the Tánaiste to withdraw the remarks he made in regard to that website on its introduction when he said in the Dáil on 12 October that there was a distinction between information and propaganda, and that this was a propaganda site? The Taoiseach has described it as impartial and objective here this morning and I welcome that turnaround since he also criticised www.merrionstreet.ie It illustrates the cynicism of his approach when he was on the Opposition benches, which is bad for politics-----

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