I understand that the Taoiseach cannot be here this morning because of the workload associated with the Presidency of the European Union. However, I cannot understand why the Tánaiste has consistently failed to turn up to represent the Government in the Chamber. I recall instances when previous Governments were in power when people went into hysterics because both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste were absent and the country could not be properly managed. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh, who represents the Executive this morning, should understand that, having travelled approximately 12,000 km around the country in the past few weeks, the extent of frustration and depth of feeling and anger among people is the most palpable I have ever seen.

I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that we are dealing with questions to the Minister.

We are dealing with Leaders' Questions.

The Deputy should ask a question.

He is entitled to say what he wants. Does the Chair want to take over that as well? We may as well close the place down.

Deputy Kenny asked whether the Minister understood the frustration that exists. Is that not a question?

I am not sure what type of protective mood the Chair is in this morning, but neither the Taoiseach nor the Tánaiste is here. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has been handed a brief from which he will answer questions, one of which I would like to ask him now. People outside this House are talking about the arrogance, incompetence and broken promises of the Government. The Government promised 2,000 extra gardaí, but none was delivered, it promised 200,000 medical cards, but none was delivered and it promised 3,000 hospital beds, but none was delivered. It wasted €52 million of public money on electronic voting. The streets are not safe to walk. The old are left in despair and the young are without facilities. A shambles has been made of decentralisation. There is a despicable broken promise whereby the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe are to be allowed to walk the streets and probably canvass for some of the political parties.

Does the Minister accept that the Government has no shame and that its programme for Government has been abandoned? How does he account for the fact that thousands of people talk about the litany of broken promises? Will the Minister tell the people why the Government has failed to live up to its word and has reneged on the promises given to the people when it bought their trust in 2002?

The people will tell the Government that on 11 June anyway.

I also have been out on the hustings and the people I have met are in a very buoyant mood.

What are they growing?

If matters were as bad as Deputy Kenny says they are, his party would be doing better in Dublin. Judging by this morning's opinion polls it has some questions to answer. There has been an outstanding performance by this economy and by workers here. The levels of employment and investment and the general performance of our economy will stand comparison with those of any country in either the EU or the OECD.

That is despite the Government.

The Minister is spending too much time abroad.

The record will show categorically — it will show it in Cork South-West as well — that this country is performing well. In the first five years we met our targets and surpassed many of them. We are only half way through this term and we will meet our targets in this term as well.

I will have a bet with the Minister on that.

I am glad to note that the Minister's opinion is that people are very buoyant. In discussing issues with people on the doorsteps in Dublin, one Fianna Fáil candidate had difficulty in remembering what countries joined the European Union on 1 May.

If the Government has met all its targets, will the Minister explain why it has failed to reduce waiting lists, why it has not delivered 2,000 extra gardaí, why it has broken its promise to provide 200,000 medical cards, why it has not delivered 3,000 extra hospital beds, why the Minister present failed on the nitrates directive and on live exports and made a shambles of decentralisation? The imminent announcement of decentralisation to Portlaoise is not valid, according to the Minister's staff. Workers from other Departments are being given preference and the 50 the Minister mentioned are not even included in the decentralisation programme. How can he stand up here and say the Government has met its targets when it has proven itself to be the worst ever Government in the past 50 years?

Hear, hear.

Why is the Government kow-towing to the IRA?

I suggest that Deputies leave it to their leader to ask supplementary questions.

I repeat that the key indicators of economic performance have all been met. They are outstanding and bear comparison with comparable economies anywhere in the OECD in terms of growth in double digit figures over the past decade, with employment creation at an average of 9%, which has increased the workforce from 1.2 million to 1.8 million, inflation in low single figures and investment at an all-time high, with €43 billion in direct foreign investment into Ireland last year. I hope and expect that this level of performance will continue. We are only two years into a five-year term and I assure the House that we will match if not surpass the record achieved in the last term in office of this Government.

If the Government goes on previous performance it will be in deep trouble.