Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

All over Ireland this morning people are asking one question: why can the Taoiseach not speak with the same clarity and honesty as the Governor of the Central Bank on "Morning Ireland"? While not underplaying the precarious position in which we found ourselves or our plight, he spoke with certainty and clarity about where we stood, the events of this week and those which the country would face. That certainty and clarity was completely lacking in the contributions of the Taoiseach and his Ministers this week. This is not just an issue about the psyche and the soul of the country and the fear and uncertainty in homes and families everywhere, it is also about the confidence the outside world, investors and the financial markets have in the country. They are comparing the performances and asking why the person we elected to lead the country and who is leading the Government cannot give that kind of performance at a time when the country is so desperately in need of it. It is clear to Ireland and the world that we are facing a third crisis. There was the banking crisis of September 2008, while this summer there was a crisis of the sovereign associated with Greece. The crisis we are facing is one in which they have been fused together by the actions of the Government.

When I walk through the entrance to Leinster House and look up at pictures of the great figures from our past who fought so hard to secure sovereignty, I recall that they grappled with a national question, that is, the question of our physical security and autonomy. We have a new national question, one of economic sovereignty and preserving the sovereignty the great figures from our past fought so hard to obtain and which is now being eroded by the actions of the Government. It is clear that two issues must be addressed if we are to answer this question. First, one reason the country is in such difficulty is that the outside world does has not have confidence in our ability to pay our debts. The solution to this is not to add to our existing debt. A way must be found to restructure and deal with it. The second part of the solution will have to involve firm and clear action taken by the Government in dealing with the current budgetary difficulties and, equally, direction from this side of the House on what we should do in the future, which direction has been given by signing up to the commitments in respect of 2014.

I conclude by quoting from the editorial in The Irish Times today:

Let us not seek to assuage our sense of shame in the comforting illusion that powerful nations in Europe are conspiring to become our masters. We are, after all, no great prize for any would-be overlord now.

The prize is the ability of the country to run its affairs in a few years. The Government has shown it is unable to do this. This side of the House needs to take its place.