If this matter is a settled position decided on by the Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Noel Treacy, with the Taoiseach's knowledge, why is a senior backbencher attacking the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, this morning, on the basis that she is doing a solo run and that the position is false and mischievous? Why, if one of their own made this decision, would Fianna Fáil backbenchers be doing that? Why are they working themselves up into such a lather about stem cell research when the most needy children in society are deprived of crèche facilities because of the child care cuts? At a time when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul says that 70,000 children are living in deprivation and 300,000 in relative poverty, what exactly is going on in Fianna Fáil?

They revolt on stem cell research after the decision has been made. On the Hanly report, they revolt after the document has been approved by the Cabinet. On the smoking ban, they revolt on behalf of publicans after the Minister for Health and Children has committed himself. On the community employment scheme, 40 of them sign a motion only after they can be sure that it has been safely decided in the Book of Estimates and voted through the House the previous week. Perhaps the Taoiseach will tell us what exactly is going on. Is this a revolt against his leadership? Is Deputy Batt O'Keeffe a stalking horse? Are the meetings in Cork about that? If not, why should the Taoiseach be accused by Deputy Batt O'Keeffe of misrepresenting the position of the Minister, Deputy Harney, at a Fianna Fáil meeting? Why should the Taoiseach decide to misrepresent the Minister's position? God knows that she has been loyal enough to him.

The Deputy's two minutes are concluded.

What question should I answer?

Perhaps he should answer that of Deputy Andrews. He says that he is a dissident Fianna Fáil Deputy because he is supporting Government policy.

In the absence of a question, all that I can say to Deputy Rabbitte is that the only way that I could assure him about the excellent meetings that we have in Fianna Fáil – since I never hear about his party's meetings – is if he did what he has done so many times before in his life and came and joined us.

Given the imminent likelihood of a vacancy, I might well consider it.

I might even support him.

Is this the appropriate manner for the Taoiseach to regard the dissent that is now evident regarding every decision that the Government has tried to announce and implement? They have all gone wrong, starting with the penalty points back in 1998. Emergency legislation is now having to be put through to correct that. There is the smoking ban, the Hanly report, the community employment schemes, stem cell research – you name it. Then the Taoiseach goes to the parliamentary party and, on the word of a senior backbencher, misrepresents the position of the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney. When it came to tax evasion on the backbenches, Deputy Harney explained it away on the basis that it had not taken place in Government. When it came to Punchestown, she explained it away on the basis that—

The Deputy's minute is concluded.

There are lessons to be learnt. She has done the same to defend the Government in this position. The pit bull terrier of the PD watchdog has become a sleepy collie on the porch that can no longer distinguish between the milkman and a burglar. That is the loyalty—

The Deputy's time is up.

—that the Taoiseach is now demonstrating to the Minister when it was not her decision in the first place.

The Fianna Fáil Party, unlike Deputy Rabbitte's party, discusses every issue, and last night—

After the decision has been made.

Allow the Taoiseach without interruption, please.

Deputy Rabbitte did not ask me a question, but I have a minute to reply. The Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats have brought in far-sighted proposals, and I notice that those across the water are now also considering our smoking ban legislation. I wish them well in that. The Hanly report is part of our overall reform, along with the Prospectus and Brennan reports, to try to give better medical treatment to people in this country. In our social welfare Estimate, we have moved to €10.6 billion this year. Regarding the vote today, the Government and the parliamentary parties totally support the Minister's view, which is to try to ensure that guidelines and proper procedures are put in place and that no research can happen in Europe without them. On all the other issues, both parties in this Government have proper debate and analysis. It is a pity that Deputy Rabbitte's parliamentary party could not have the open and excellent debate that we have in Fianna Fáil.

There is unity there.