Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Dáil has been a different place for the past few months. There seems to be different mood in here, and there does not seem to be as much work being done. There is less legislation being passed and it is felt there is an election coming at some stage. It is felt that the Government is in its final days.

The Taoiseach keeps telling us he has made Ireland a great country to do business in once again and that the economy is booming. It is very significant that the Government does not seem to have a problem with the fact that Ireland has the fastest-rising rate of child poverty in Europe. That is very significant in terms of how things have been done. The Taoiseach referred earlier to community. Sadly, most communities do not feel the benefits of the past four years.

The Government side referred to the Magdalen laundries and symphysiotomy. Truth be told, however, the Government was dragged kicking and screaming to these issues, and they are still not resolved. We all know individuals such as Fr. Peter McVerry have been screaming from the rooftops about homelessness for four years but someone had to die in a doorway just down the road before it registered. The housing problem has been staring us in the face for four years. We really have not done much about it yet, and we have not learned the lessons to be learned from the problems that were so stark during the crisis.

The body language today has not been good. The Taoiseach's job is a very difficult one and cannot be easy. It is only natural that it is very stressful. The Taoiseach is now showing the stress of the job; it must be very difficult. I do not believe the next 12 months will be good to or for him, nor will they be good for the people. I really believe it is time to call a halt to it. The idea of tabling a motion of confidence in the Government is a bit hollow. Nobody should do it, no matter what anyone thinks of the Government's performance. It is not for us here to say whether the Government is the best or worst; it is only the people who can decide that. The sooner, the better.

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