Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Has his party confidence in him? Is it forced to have confidence in him out of fear, instead?

The Opposition parties ask us to trust them. I would not trust any of them to run this great country. What does the Opposition offer in the way of leadership? Contrast the leadership provided by our Taoiseach, our Tánaiste and this Government over the past three and a half years with the critics on the other side of the House. The Fianna Fáil Party, led by Deputy Martin, offers nothing positive. He was a Minister who sat at the Cabinet table under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, a Minister who was involved in the decisions which destroyed the economy.

Sinn Féin under the leadership of Gerry Adams offers nothing. A man who has failed repeatedly to answer the questions raised by Maíria Cahill and the leader of a party with an economic policy that would devastate this country and reverse all the hard work and gains of the past three years is no real alternative. The collection of Independents offer only criticism and are unable to provide any policies that would offer the people of this country any hope for the future. They are groups that argue with each other just to argue with each other. The Opposition has nothing to offer but hopelessness. It will drag this country back to the economic turmoil that existed before this Government came to power.

This Government and this Taoiseach will fulfil its mandate and serve the people of this country until the spring of 2016. When people go to the polls in 2016, it will be in a country with a thriving economy where things are better than they were when we took over in 2011. As a Government, we will put our record of achievement before the Irish people and ask them to support us. On a daily basis, I work alongside An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and see at first hand his leadership skills. I am honoured as a citizen of this country, a member of Fine Gael and a member of this Government to vote confidence in An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and in this Government.

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