Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí eile. Déanaim chomhbhrón leis an Seanadóirí agus na comhairleoirí ar fud na tíre nach raibh tofa. Gabhaim buíochas le gach éinne a sheas sna toghcháin. Tá sé iontach tabhachtach go nglacann daoine páirt sa phróiseas daonlathach. Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don moladh atá curtha chun cinn ag an Seanadóir Fitzgerald maidir le díospóireacht a bheith againn ar thoradh an toghcháin. It is important that a debate take place in this House on the outcome of the elections. It is very clear that a signal was given by the people to this Government that although it has the authority to continue to govern up to 2012, the moral authority was withdrawn last Friday through the people's actions at the ballot boxes. Such a discussion must take place in this House, as it will in the Lower House later, when a motion of no confidence will be put forward in the Government. It is unfortunate we cannot have a similar motion as I would definitely support it in the Chamber. There is a need for such a debate, which would take into account the direction this country needs to take in upcoming years.

I have no doubt that difficult decisions will need to be made, particularly in December's budget. Senator Fitzgerald mentioned something which I have commented on many times, namely, the issue is not the difficult decisions but that the Government is making wrong decisions. Difficult decisions must be taken to quell the anger out there. As I have said before, hopefully Fianna Fáil will listen now that the people have spoken. Fianna Fáil needs to have the authority of the people. It is clear it does not have the moral support or mandate to continue making the decisions it has made. Whatever Government needs to make these decisions, it must have the support of the people.

It is an absolute outrage the only Irish language newspaper left on this island will disappear at the end of the week. We have already seen Lá Nua, the daily Irish language newspaper, disappear.