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

He simply will not participate in them. He retreats behind over-written political attacks and empty claims instead of directly engaging with opponents or the people he is here to serve.

Tá easpa físe i gcroílár an Rialtais seo agus ó thaobh na Gaeilge de, is léir nach bhfuil an Rialtas i ndáiríre. Sin é an fáth a d'éirigh an iar-Choimisinéir Teanga as oifig, de bharr an easpa oibre ón Rialtas.

The Government had the opportunity to set a vision for a country that treats its younger and older citizens decently and to build a recovery felt by all. Instead it has caused deepened divisions and inequality. It has been unfair and it has been increasingly incompetent. Without the guidance of other people’s blueprints to follow it has stumbled from crisis to crisis. It has no economic plan for the years ahead. It has no social plan for the years ahead. It is in office but not leading. All it has is the ever-more desperate desire to find a way of holding on to power.

The people have shown that they have no confidence in the Government to address their concerns and the needs of our country. Dáil Éireann should also have no confidence in a tired, arrogant and complacent Government which will not acknowledge let alone address its many and growing failings.

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