Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I appreciate the time being spared by Senator O'Toole. This is a bit of a farcical debate. While I will support the motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach, the real motion of no confidence everyone is discussing relates to the leader of Fine Gael. I have no confidence in either because Senator O'Toole is correct. The policies articulated by Fine Gael in the run up to the last election and those being implemented by Fianna Fáil are exactly the same. The two parties are the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of politics. For the first time in opinion polls, we see the majority of people rejecting both. A need for real change is necessary and other parties, including mine, must step up to the plate and show that we have the policies and vision to take the country forward in a fairer, more equal and inclusive society.

Individuals on the street are seething at the way in which the Taoiseach and his Cabinet have treated the ordinary, decent people. They see that not a single banker, developer or speculator has served one night behind bars. A few have been removed from their positions, but most had a soft landing. We need only look at the names. Patrick Neary, John Hurley, Eugene Sheehy and Brian Goggin were paid in the millions of euro and have annual pension cushions of €450,000 or, in the case of Mr. Goggin, €650,000. It is ridiculous. Compare this situation with that of an unemployed person over 25 years of age in receipt of €196 per week or a younger person who is in receipt of €150.

The country did not need to be here. Before elections and in the Dáil, we in Sinn Féin argued for stronger policies and regulation, caps on the remuneration of bankers, an end to property inflation, a fair tax system based on stable, direct taxation, the improvement of corporate law, a tax on speculative trading and counter-cyclical budget policies.