Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not be as long-winded, a Cheann Comhairle. If Teachta Martin follows the logic of his criticism of Fine Gael, then he should vote against today's nomination. Why did Fianna Fáil not form a Government with Fine Gael when Teachta Enda Kenny made that generous offer to Teachta Martin? It was because, according to Teachta Martin, he sought a mandate to put Deputy Enda Kenny and Fine Gael out of power, out of government. Yet, today, 70 days on from the general election, Fianna Fáil will support a fourth attempt to elect Deputy Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and elect a Government.

What kind of a Government is it? It is one which has imposed a democratic lockdown on the Dáil. We cannot get on with our business. We cannot raise the legitimate questions that we have a mandate to raise. It is not a Government that enjoys the support of the majority of citizens. Moreover, if it eventually gets elected - I note the absence of some of the Independent Deputies or "Endapendents" today - it will be, mór an trua, led once again by Fine Gael, aided and abetted this time by its new partners from Fianna Fáil and a smattering of so-called Independent Deputies.

I congratulate them all on their magnificent negotiations in recent weeks. It is a wonderful job of work but have these negotiations delivered the real changes required to resolve the crises in health and housing, the abandonment of rural Ireland, the necessary work to build a fairer and more equal Ireland, including the ongoing efforts in the North? Those of us who have a genuine vision for a real republic, who want to bring the proclamation of 1916 to fruition know full well of course that is not going to happen under this Fine Gael–Fianna Fáil arrangement. Dhiúltaigh an Teachta Micheál Martin dul i gcomhrialtas le Fine Gael. Dúirt sé nach mbeadh a leithéid ann, ach is é sin go díreach an rud atá ann anois.

This joint Fine Gael–Fianna Fáil programme is a master class in waffle and bluster. It has no real ambition, no big ideas, no costings, little real detail. Never was so much negotiated for so long for so little. There are a few miserly lines, not even a section on health, which say the "humane approach" for the revision of medical card provision should be maintained. What "humane approach"? I would dare the Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil leaders to stand up here today and tell the Dáil the current approach is a humane one, when all of us have constituents and there are citizens at their wits' end because they cannot get a medical card under the current regime.

In respect of housing, there is no commitment whatsoever on the construction of social homes. There is only a reiteration of the haphazard approach to a social State endorsed housing and homelessness crisis and emergency that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil caused in the first instance. We were told that the issue of water was the main point of contention between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil said quite clearly, and repeated several times in its manifesto, that water charges must be scrapped and Irish Water must be abolished. Now we are told that Irish Water remains and water charges are merely suspended. Níl hé seo an méid a bhí á iarraidh ag na vótóirí. Many of the "Endapendents" who have almost signed up for this were among the most vocal opponents of the policy agenda of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, yet here they are, or indeed here they are not – where are they? - seeking to vote for Enda Kenny for Taoiseach.

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