Shane Ross (Independent)

It is unusual to have a debate of this sort with a motion tabled in such blatant terms in this House. This always puts Independents in a difficult situation as they have to come off the fence on a motion as crude as this but it is my view and that of a large number of people in the country that, for various reasons, Fianna Fáil has been too long in office. The numbers will be more familiar to other Members but the party has been out of office for two and a half years over the past 23 years but ipso facto it is bad for the party, the individuals, democracy and the country for any government or party to be in power for so long.