Alex White (Labour)

On the point about confidence and people's confidence in the future, unfortunately we must record the fact that whatever about the mood in this House and the mood in Leinster House, there is a palpable mood of despondency and fear throughout the country that has not changed since the House last sat. If anything, it has got worse. We have a responsibility to address this. The principal responsibility lies with the Government but I accept that the Opposition and the people involved in public life have a great responsibility as well. The difficulty for the Government, especially during the summer when there were many examples, is that most people have now taken the view that the Government, far from being able to produce a solution or be part of the solution, is itself part of the problem.

I refer to the question of engagement with people. It is reported in the newspapers today that the Taoiseach stated - I do not have the exact words to hand but he is quoted in this morning's newspaper - that the Government is trying its best to persuade people on the international front that we are doing the right thing. I can understand the Taoiseach attempting to do this but when is he going to start persuading the people of this country and addressing the issue of confidence and belief on their part? In the spring, Members on the Government side repeatedly referred in the House to The Wall Street Journal and various other newspapers in America which they thought were praising Government policy. I do not see them referring to that newspaper or other publications that have commented recently on the deterioration in the economic situation in this country.

On the question of confidence, I agree that the Government should be engaging with the people, and this has been a serious failure on the part of the Government, the Taoiseach in particular. I do not want to hear another reference to turning the corner. What does the phrase mean? The people are able to put up with bad news, the truth and honesty, but they do not get that from the Government. They get this happy-clappy soft soaping where everything is fine and we are turning the corner. How many times have we turned the corner? We are going around a roundabout at the moment, such is the sort of corner we are turning. The first time this phrase was used was a year ago and the Minister for Finance is still saying it. The Government should level with the people. Let us have facts and honesty. The first place we should have it is in this House today in respect of Anglo Irish Bank. We have the ludicrous scenario whereby the House will be asked to extend the guarantee today but will only be told the story about Anglo Irish Bank tomorrow.