Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The first item concerns the Central Bank story. While this is topical, it is just another example of extravagance and hypocrisy linked to the legacy and the policies of the Bertie Ahern-led Fianna-Fáil era of the past 12 years, with no accountability, respect or transparency. When is this to stop and when will Fianna Fáil and its pals learn that the people deserve to be treated fairly and with respect?

I ask the Leader and the Deputy Leader in his absence what is Government policy. Do we now have a Government in absentia and one in situ and two different Government positions? Yesterday Senator Cannon correctly exposed the faultline in the Government as regards the creation of a single national water authority. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, sat there, bemused, like a headless chicken. The Senators opposite agreed with him, yet the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, had signed an agreement, not covertly but in full glee and excitement, and looked forward to committing to this. What is Government policy? It is no wonder the country is in rag order, because we have a Government that does not know its policy.

In the month that has just passed the Minister, Deputy Gormley, has had a different policy as regards incineration, there is a different policy as regards the water authority, the Green Party and Fianna Fáil differ as regards the banking inquiry and ——