Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

My wife and I own a rural pub in east Galway. Having spent more than two years as an Oireachtas Member, I am beginning to realise what an invaluable opportunity I have every week to talk to our customers, friends and others who own similar small businesses in east Galway. John B. Keane once remarked that there was no better way of assessing the mood of the people than by standing behind the bar of a pub in a rural town or village. That opportunity is an important antidote to the pomp and privilege that surrounds us in this House. If one is not careful, one can become completely detached from the challenges people face daily. Week in, week out I experience the complete and utter despair of people on the other side of my bar counter who no longer have any trust in the Government. Without that trust, the ship of State is listing badly and drifting rudderless on the rough seas of an economic disaster.

What remained of that trust suffered a fatal blow yesterday when the Taoiseach tried to convince the people that he had sat for three hours with the chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, a director of the bank and a board member of the Central Bank, whom he had appointed, and not discussed the affairs of the bank. He uttered the following incredible words in late November when introducing the Government's four year plan: "There are occasions when the imperative of serving the national interest transcends other concerns, including party political and personal concerns." I have two questions for the Leader, a businessman who knows what is happening in the real world. When does he believe a politician should place party or personal interests ahead of the national interest because that is exactly what is implied in the Taoiseach's statement? Second, when does the Leader propose to tell his party leader that it is high time he, at long last, placed the national interest above all other interests? The Government must go now, for the sake of the people. Three more months of this nonsense will sink us for good.