Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is an impossible task to wrap up the debate on behalf of the Labour Party in government in five minutes. From listening to the debate so far I am reminded of one thing I have learned in life: that there is only one thing worse than being offended, that is to have others be offended on one’s behalf because one feels one has to react and support them. That is what has happened in this case. The Minister’s indiscretion should not have happened and he has now apologised twice for it. Deputy Wallace has confirmed that he would never have gone to such extremes to vindicate his position in terms of the incident in question. I do not know Deputy Wallace very well but from what I know of him he would not have gone to such extremes and he would not have become involved in the type of time wasting that has taken place in the Chamber for the past two nights.

The Opposition is the Opposition. It is entitled to table whatever motion it wishes. That is acceptable. We did it ourselves when we were in opposition but a motion of confidence is an extremely serious one and should be used sparingly. To table a motion of confidence based on the type of information we have heard in recent weeks is a waste of time. I do not say that lightly; I mean it. There are so many valuable issues we could be discussing tonight. For instance, we knew two weeks in advance that a damning report on crèches and the care of children in this country was due. I heard many Deputies say they had not been given sufficient time to discuss the issue. We could have been discussing the matter tonight, and last night. Fianna Fáil can table whatever motion it wishes in its Private Members’ time, but this motion is one with which no one in the country agrees.

Of course the Garda is upset and annoyed at the way their pay and conditions have been cut. Who is not upset? In my area of responsibility, the Psychiatric Nurses Association is not very happy with me. However, it is simply what we have to do in order to get the country back on its feet. This is not a popularity game for the Government. It was a popularity game for the previous Government but-----

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