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

I watched with amusement Deputy Daly's contribution, which I thought was very good, by the way, but I am sure Deputy Ross must have been cringing. Let us be honest about it - this was a debate about everything and nothing. It masquerades as a motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste but it has been little more than an opportunity for the followers of Deputy Ross to talk about whatever grabs their fancy, and we have seen that in abundance tonight.

There is nothing particularly wrong about that, and it is hardly the first time it has happened. What is wrong is that Deputy Ross and his crew have dragged David Begg into their publicity-seeking exercise in a cynical and opportunistic way, which is grossly unfair to him. Let us cut to the bottom line. The chair of the Pensions Authority is an important job. David Begg is the best man for the job and the Tánaiste was well within her rights to exercise her initiative and ask him to do that job. I ask those on the left, among whom I include Deputies Finian McGrath and John Halligan, who they want to see sitting as head of the Pensions Authority.

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