Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Of course, any government must be reliant in the first instance on the democratic mandate of the people. If the Taoiseach is so confident in the Government's achievements as he stands down as leader of Fine Gael and as Taoiseach and if he is confident of that record, he should go to the people and hear what they have to say. We are in times of enormous opportunity and huge challenge. I cannot imagine a time when it would be more important for the people to have full confidence in the Government that is in place and in the Taoiseach who leads that Government. In my strong opinion, that confidence of the people can only be demonstrated, tested and validated through the ballot box. I put it to the Taoiseach again that rather than limping on and passing the office of Taoiseach among the members of the Government again, the correct democratic route at this point is to go to people, put the Government's record before them and have all of us ask them, in a spirit of humility, who should lead. That is the democratic way to proceed.

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