Alex White (Labour)

That is the sort of activity that the Members opposite appear to want to engage in. We either have a debate or we do not. I never heard such nonsense as the Tánaiste saying we are personalising the debate around the Taoiseach. If one is to talk about the Taoiseach's performance, one must talk about the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach's name is Brian Cowen. To that extent the debate is being personalised. He holds an important constitutional office and we are entitled to criticise him forcefully if we wish.

We are dealing with "planet Bertie" without Bertie because Senator Cassidy said he felt the Honohan report would make difficult reading for the Labour Party. It does make difficult reading for the Labour Party. The report makes difficult reading for anyone who picks it up because it demonstrates the most gross incompetence at least, if not shocking betrayal of the trust of the people over the past ten to 15 years of this Government in office.

The Tánaiste made some crack about the Labour Party and teachers. The last time my party was in Government Deputy Ruairí Quinn was Minister for Finance. This is a matter of factual record. The new Government in 1997 inherited the first planned surplus in more than 30 years. We were the most competitive economy in Europe at the time. We were creating 1,000 jobs a week and unemployment was rapidly falling. What did we find yesterday?