The Taoiseach's Government has failed the country and the people. We now have a situation where 437,000 people are on the live register, with a further 70,000 projected to lose their jobs this year; credit is not flowing from banks to business; the public service is facing serious unrest because of the Government's economic policy of cutting wages and writing blank cheques for banks and people are being indiscriminately shot on our streets, all of which is causing serious anger and frustration. This is not good governance or leadership and it will not work. The people know it will not work.

The Taoiseach leads a Government that is riven by internal tension and divided by suspicion and a lack of trust. Yesterday, we witnessed the dignified resignation of former Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent. Contrast that with the actions last week of the Taoiseach in forcing his party and the Green Party to defend the indefensible former Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, and his attempting to justify the assertion that Deputy O'Dea had lived up to the standards he set for him. Deputy Sargent recognised he had made a serious error of judgment. In light of the spectacle witnessed in this Chamber last week, will the Taoiseach accept he made a serious error of judgment in terms of the manner in which he conducted the exit of Deputy O'Dea?

Hear, hear.

I totally reject the usual negative narrative that comes from the Leader of the Opposition.

The Taoiseach is in a rejection mood.

He comes into this House on a continual basis and speaks as he does when in fact he does not have a policy framework that is credible. What we have——

The Government has no policy at all.

It has no policy on anything.

I ask Deputy Durkan to allow the Taoiseach to continue without interruption.

——are policies that are being implemented. They are gaining credibility financially and domestically and we intend to continue to pursue them so that growth can return to this economy and recovery can be effected.

On the other matter, the contrast I saw yesterday was the dignity of Deputy Sargent's statement as compared with what was subsequently——

Compared to the Taoiseach.

——suggested outside this House by Deputy Kenny's party and others——

Compared to what the Taoiseach did the week before.

——in suggesting involvement by this party in these matters. That is the contrast I saw.

Fianna Fáil would never stoop so low.

It was a pretty pathetic and hamfisted attempt, I must say.

Coincidental, was it?

Scurrilous.