Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to express my full confidence in the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to thank him for his work to date and to look forward to the continuation of his ambitious programme of legislative reform. At 9 p.m. we will put this piece of political opportunism behind us in order to allow him to return to dealing with issues such as the Mental Capacity Bill, which will make a difference to the lives of many people with disabilities. His work ethic and commitment is beyond reproach. He navigated many laws onto the Statute Book in the past two years and published many more. He has been the driving force behind many of this Government's initiatives.

I understand the need for political theatre on occasion but this is more pantomime than Plato. The Minister has been consistent in his answers while his opponents have altered their facts, moved the goalposts, changed their stories and engaged in hypocrisy. Some Members appear to find the Minister's intelligence disconcerting. Perhaps they prefer the old Killinascullyesque backslapping opportunistic parish pump politics but I, for one, find his ability reassuring and encouraging for this country.

See this speech in context