Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

-----Minister Phil - as they have made an appalling mess on rural water services, the septic tank issue and now the household charge. It is utter pandemonium. They should be ashamed of themselves or else they will have to dislodge him or lose him somewhere. They are in big trouble if they have Ministers like him coming out.

Then there is the Minister, Deputy Burton, coming out with her statements on projections of timescales on when it might be held. The Government is in disarray.

When the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Noonan, went abroad, the lads at home had a field day. I do not know what the Taoiseach will do when he comes back. The Chief Whip was abroad and they lost a vote in committee. We came in to speak on a very important motion put forward last week by Deputy Michael McGrath and there was not a Member on the other side of the House for 12 minutes. So much for Merkel and Sarkozy's way or Labour's way. There is not a Labour person here tonight.

This is an appalling situation. The ECB and the European Commission have been asleep in regard to fairness and equity across the European project. They have neglected and abandoned it. They have allowed money to be pumped in here from bigger banks. Now, they want Paddy to pay. The Taoiseach said Paddy must know. Paddy is not a fool. If the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, cannot find the green jersey, we will get it for them, but they had better put it on and stand up for Ireland. Mise Éireann. This is Ireland we are talking about. We are being blackguarded by the European people. We are being blackguarded by the banks. The Government has got to find its courage. They pilloried the last Government, yelling day and night as to what they would and would not do, and they pointed out the inadequacies of the Government of the time. They have been a dismal failure with the Commission people. All the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, wants is pats on the back, a smile and "Goodbye there, maith an buachaill. Go back to Mayo, Taoiseach, and-----"

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