Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

It was extraordinary this morning to hear the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, state he had offered his resignation to the Taoiseach several weeks ago and, at the same time, acknowledge the serious work that needed to be done, yet the Taoiseach did not tell his partners in government about the resignations which it appears came as a surprise to the Green Party. It is the Green Party which created the conditions that allowed this to happen, through its extraordinary decision to have the general election called in January, only to change its mind subsequently and be indecisive about when it would be called. It is clear we need an election now, as what is occurring is extraordinary. It is demeaning to ministerial office to see what is happening today. It is demeaning to our democracy and politics. Most of all, it is outrageous-----