Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the fiction of new politics with the Taoiseach. A week ago, he was elected by 57 Deputies while 50 Deputies voted against him. Some 44 Fianna Fáil Deputies abstained in keeping with that party's supply and confidence agreement with Fine Gael, of which we have just seen lots of evidence. The Taoiseach represents 36% of the Dáil. He has no popular mandate. That is the new politics according to him and the Fianna Fáil leader.

Since his election, the Taoiseach has been at the centre of controversy over the appointment of former Attorney General, Máire Whelan, to the Court of Appeal. I cast no aspersions on the ability of the former Attorney General. My issue is with the process or lack thereof. Yet the Taoiseach has defended the appointment and the process. He stands over it and, indeed, pressed ahead and requested that the President ratify Ms Whelan's appointment yesterday morning. Now there are reports that he has decided to have the process of this appointment reviewed.

This controversy has overshadowed the Taoiseach's appointment of three super junior Ministers when he is permitted to appoint only two. This is more new politics. Super junior Ministers are paid an extra €15,829 for attendance at Cabinet meetings. In the past, a brand new allowance was invented to top up the salary of the former Chief Whip, Deputy Regina Doherty, to attend Cabinet meetings. When Deputy Paul Kehoe was Chief Whip he was paid a bonus for this privilege.

Clearly, where there is a will, there is a way, but it is hardly new politics. In his republic of opportunity, I am sure the Taoiseach will look after his new super-duper junior Minister, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor. Meanwhile, last month there were 8,154 citizens on trolleys in our hospitals, which is a 25% increase on the figures for last year, 92,000 families languish on local authority waiting lists, there are almost 5,000 homeless adults and 2,708 children are in emergency accommodation. What is new about the politics that creates this inequality and stress in the lives of citizens? What is new about Fianna Fáil's fake outrage? What is new about the soldiers of destiny marching up to the top of the hill, their brass necks glistening in the sun?

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