Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Does the Leader agree that the events of the past 24 hours highlight the fact that the Government is no longer relevant? The people do not care about it; all they want is a general election. I concur with Senator Leyden that the most important issue this morning is the cancellation of flights and the image of Ireland being closed for business. The Government has disengaged and is no longer interested in the country. The Minister for Transport is half in, half out. I ask somebody to meet the board and chief executive of Aer Lingus to bring to an end the mess that is causing chaos in the country. Does the Government have any interest in the people, the work of the country or allowing people to come and go? We are projecting a bad image.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has gone away, but President Sarkozy can get away with criticising Ireland. The Taoiseach is now also Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Transport, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Minister for Defence, Minister for Justice and Law Reform and Minister for Health and Children.