Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

During this debate, Government members and backbenchers have stuck to the basic line that there is no legitimate reason even to raise the issue of whether the Minister, Deputy Shatter, should continue in office. They have said that partisan politics is the only basis for criticising him and that asking him questions is a distraction from the real issues that should concern us. I agree that there are many urgent issues facing the people we represent which deserve more debate and action, including the mounting mortgage and household debt crisis which is not being addressed because of the Government's decision to put the banks in charge; the two-tiered recovery which is seeing some do well as the majority are left behind; and regressive taxes and stealth charges which are hitting struggling families the most. We all know that the detail of the water charges is being hidden until after May's elections. These and many more issues are what concern people the most-----

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