Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Senator clearly has a difficulty with people responding to him in a quiet tone. I merely pointed out to him that no party in the Dáil would have a majority with 76 seats. The electorate clearly determined, in its wisdom, that the new Government should be a coalition and as we face a jobs crisis of 440,000 unemployed, a crisis in our public finances and a banking crisis, all of which are the legacy of the party and the Taoiseach who appointed the Senator to this House, it is crucial this Government can operate with a sense of stability, that the general public have confidence in our ability to last five years and that we have the support of the overwhelming majority not only of Deputies but also those who voted in this country if we are to embark on the enormously difficult task of restoring some sense of economic independence while at the same time implementing what I believe to be the most dynamic and exciting reform programme of any Government elected during my time in the Dáil.