Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is about time that some discipline was imposed in the Government. Instead of telling us how to do our business in this job, might I suggest the Government meets and acts as a collective authority. Either it is engaging in patronage and favour-giving or it is not. If any member of the Government thinks that the old system is inherently an exercise in patronage or favour-giving he should resign or the Taoiseach should tell him to stop making those remarks. It amounts to a dissent and an imputation about the quality of decisions to which the relevant Minister is a party.