Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

------but they have no sense of that at present.

At the press conference today, the Taoiseach was asked if banks would have the capacity to veto any arrangements, but he could not answer the question despite calling a major joint press conference with the Tánaiste. That lack of certainty and direction is undermining confidence. What has been done in the past week or two by Ministers will damage economic recovery and consumer sentiment. It will undermine the capacity of the domestic economy, in particular, to achieve some type of recovery. It is time the Taoiseach asserted his authority in the Government and not have it undermined daily by Ministers who cannot keep their thoughts to themselves. As the Tánaiste so eloquently said this morning, every Monday morning when they wake up they feel disposed to articulate some view or other. It is undermining the Taoiseach's authority and the authority of the Government, as well as its sense of clarity and direction.

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