Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If we had an audience here of the great powers of Europe - the Central Bank, the IMF, European banks and Irish bankers - perhaps the motion of confidence might be passed. There are those who applaud the Government and those great outside powers to whose tune the Government is dancing. Ms Merkel salivates every time the Taoiseach arrives in Berlin with a bouquet of roses. He goes as a puppet to dance to her tune. The Central Bank is very happy and the Department of Finance is delighted with the Minister for Finance, as we can see. The IMF and others that have lent us money are also pleased. It is very difficult, however, to say the Government has acted in the interests of the people of Ireland rather than those of external forces. That is the main problem I have with the direction in which it is moving. It is external forces that are driving the Irish economy and wagon.

The Government is not different from its predecessor. The Government which so obviously promised to differ from Fianna Fáil is, however, different in certain respects. It has certainly done fewer things that are so obviously corrupt, unethical and unacceptable and a more honest appearance, but its economic performance is as bad, if not worse, because it had other options and refused to take them. I will vote to express no confidence in the Government because it has refused to differentiate itself from the economics of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

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