An unprecedented level of abuse has flown between Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats members of the Government in the past week. The sight of Fianna Fáil backbenchers on the plinth is nothing new, as they have publicly wrestled with their consciences in recent months in respect of a range of issues, such as cutbacks in community employment schemes, the smoking ban, social welfare cutbacks and stealth taxes. They have provided meek lobby fodder in the House, however, when the Government has voted its business through the Chamber. One occasionally encounters the rare sight of a PD backbencher sighing publicly about issues such as freedom of information, electronic voting or something else that is about to upset the national psyche.

The business of slagging has reached unprecedented levels in the past week, involving Ministers from the same Cabinet. The Constitution sets out clearly that members of the Government are "collectively responsible" for the Departments they administer. Such collective responsibility now appears to be in shreds. The human punchbag for the Government is in the House today to soak up and absorb all the treatment being meted out to it.

Good man, Smith.

When the Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, has been in the House on behalf of the Government in recent weeks there has been evidence to suggest that he has not wanted to answer questions, that he has not had the information to answer them, or, if the information has been available to him, that he has been economical with the truth. There is evidence today that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has actually communicated who he was giving out about.

Who was that?

We are not sure who he was speaking about. Did somebody refer this morning to a man from Ranelagh?

The Minister is prematurely balding.

It may have been a member of the Minister's own party. Can I ask the Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, to state on behalf of the Government if it continues to have collective responsibility? Do we have a functioning Government? Has it started to reflect on the people's verdict of last week? Is it listening to the concerns of the people?

Will the Government implement certain aspects of its programme for Government during its term of office? I refer to the recruitment of 2,000 extra gardaí, the issuing of 200,000 extra medical cards and the opening of 3,000 extra hospital beds. Will the Government implement those promises which were made in the programme for Government?

Hear, hear.

Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are separate parties with distinct policies and mandates. It is natural that we have different outlooks from time to time. We do not attempt to deny that we have differences of opinion. It is important that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have agreed an effective programme for Government. We are working effectively on the five-year programme.

The Minister is tightly scripted today.

He is on a leash.

Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have made great strides in promoting social inclusion and ensuring that economic prosperity is more equitably spread throughout our communities.

Who said that inequality is a great incentive within the economy?

The Minister is much better fun when he does his own thing.

We have successfully introduced the highest minimum wage in Europe, over 90% of which is free of tax. Almost 420,000 people have been removed from the tax net since our first budget in 1997. Some 380,000 new jobs have been created which proves that work has become the best way out of poverty.

One cannot get a bed in a hospital.

Long-term unemployment has been cut by 80%. We have seen the most generous social welfare improvements since the establishment of the welfare state.

Keep repeating the above.

Child benefit trebled and old age pension increased by almost 60%.

The Minister's P45 is in the post.

This sounds more like a party political broadcast.

This is in stark contrast to the £1.60 increase given by the president of the Deputy's party.

No houses.

As far as the specific questions are concerned, I have just come from a businesslike Government meeting——

Never mind that auld script.

This is a week in which Deputy Kenny and every Deputy in this House can be proud of the achievements of the Government, led by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in Brussels. As far as the proposals that have been made are concerned, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has outlined on a number of occasions——

A broken promise.

——the commitment of the Government to ensure that programme is completed and the steps that will be taken, with the best efforts that could be made in the Garda College in Templemore, to meet that target. Already, 589 of the hospital beds promised have been provided and there is an ongoing commitment from the Minister for Health and Children on additional resources to ensure that the necessary ground will be made up in the provision of hospital beds as soon as possible.

Hold on to your trolley.

I am not sure what kind of guru speaks to this Minister before he comes into the Chamber to psyche him up to get the answers out.

He is hypnotised.

The Minister spoke about social inclusion and said that the Government is in favour of social inclusion. Did he consider, at that businesslike meeting this morning, that a man in Tallaght left his cubicle to go to the toilet only to find his bed gone when he came back? At that businesslike meeting this morning, did he consider that 150 patients are lying on trolleys in accident and emergency units? Did he consider at that meeting the thousands of parents who are waiting for psychological assessments for their children and that, in the case of parents to whom psychological assessments have been provided, the national educational psychological service branch of the Department of Education and Science is unable to process their applications and they do not know whether they will have full care assistance in September? So much for social inclusion in the Government's businesslike meeting.

The Deputy's minute has concluded and I am not sure he is still on the same question he began with.

When will we have a situation where Cabinet responsibility applies and where the people elected to Government stop squabbling among themselves when they know the people are out to get them? The Minister should answer the questions. Will the Minister confirm that the Government will employ the 2,000 extra gardaí in its lifetime?

I ask the Deputy to give way to the Minister.

Will he confirm the allocation of 200,000 extra medical cards and that 3,000 extra beds will be provided and not left in units that are built but unopened? He is a disgrace.

This Government, and the previous Government, would put the previous Administration to shame.

The people will put the Minister to shame.

Allow the Minister to reply without interruption.

Answer the questions.

It would put that Administration to shame in terms of what has been attempted to be done for the people with special needs. Whether one is talking about special assistance, resource teachers, remedial teachers, the provision of long-stay facilities or respite care——

We want that now.

What about the disability Bill?

Answer the questions.

——in every one of those areas, the Government puts that Administration to shame.

There are 51 Down's syndrome children waiting for special needs assistance.

I would be the first to admit there is still more to be done.

Good.

We will continue to dedicate additional resources to these special needs areas. It is a high priority for the Government but I will not be lectured by parties which put £1 million into capital resources for special needs in their last year of Government.

A phoney war. The Minister should not talk about social inclusion.

Who is not talking to each other now?

As far as the patient in Tallaght is concerned, I understand the hospital authorities will make a statement in connection with that individual.

How many more cases?

However——

The Minister's time has concluded.

——we have increased the number of specialists in the emergency areas. We are trying to provide additional step-down facilities. We know the medical services have to be improved in these areas. We are understanding and sympathetic and we want to provide additional resources for these areas——

I ask the Minister to give way.

——but everything will not be solved overnight.

What about Tuam hospital?

What about Hanly?

For the benefit of Members on both sides who have difficulty with the clock, the Chair has requested a report on the timing system in the European Parliament where, when the time allocated under Standing Order arrives, the microphone is cut off.

It is getting worse.

If Members want to change the Standing Order, so be it.

Who took that initiative, a Cheann Comhairle?

I requested a report which I will bring to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

The Chair requested it?

The Chair has requested a report on what happens in the European Parliament to bring to the CPP.

We will reject it.

This is a sovereign Parliament, a Cheann Comhairle, and we can manage fine——

Yes, Deputy, and the Members lay down Standing Orders. If Members continue to abuse the Standing Order, there is no option but to find another way in which we can implement the Standing Order as laid down by the Members of the House.

Did you ever consider closing down the House altogether, Sir? We will meet for the budget once a year.

That is a matter for the Members of the House also.