The reason I got into politics - I have been a building contractor all my life and I am a block layer by trade - is that I want to help build for the future. I want to use my experience. I do not build for local authorities. I have always had our own jobs to do.

For 40 or 50 years, we have been promised infrastructure. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, who is sitting behind the Taoiseach, made promises in respect of Askeaton but the Government never delivered it. For 40 years, a Fine Gael councillor looked for it to be delivered but it was never delivered. That councillor has now retired and there is still no infrastructure. We look at Oola and Dromcolliher. I can go around the counties and see all the promises that were made. These are towns and villages in Limerick that looked for infrastructure but never got it. We are talking about 40 years of promises. Every time there is an election, there is a promise, but it is never delivered. After 15 or 20 years in politics, they have never delivered for the people of Limerick and this is reflected across the country because there has been no delivery of infrastructure.

If we have infrastructure, we can build. That is the foundation but we do not have it. It has never been invested in. We are looking for everyone in every county to be given a fair shake at it, but the Cabinet must reflect that. If every member of the Cabinet is from one base, it will never rebuild Ireland. The team has to be right and the team has to reflect this country. The team the Taoiseach has does not.

I have a Cabinet Minister from the Deputy's constituency in-----

The junior and now the senior since the Taoiseach stepped down. Only for that, there would-----

Will the Deputy allow the Taoiseach answer?

I think the Deputy meant to say when I stepped up.

Stepped up or stepped down, whichever.

It is like Lanigan's Ball. He stepped out and I stepped in.

When I became leader, I appointed a Minister from the Deputy's constituency to the Cabinet. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, also serves the Deputy's constituency. Both of them advocate for the area.

Statements of an absolute nature that no infrastructure has been delivered do not stand up to any degree of scrutiny.

The facts are there.

Here are other facts as well. When I visit the Deputy's county, which I do regularly, and intend to visit very regularly shortly-----

It must be an election.

There will be. I wish the Deputy well in it. There will be many people in his county who will recognise progress has been made on infrastructure. In fact, there is probably not a part of Ireland that has greater levels of third-level infrastructure per head of population than Limerick city and county - we now have three universities in Limerick - providing young people with an incredible education. I am sure the Deputy will accept and agree that is infrastructure.

Where are they?

They are in the Deputy's county of Limerick.

In the city.

I presume Limerick city is part of your county so that is fine. On Askeaton, the wastewater treatment plant is being advanced by Uisce Éireann through funding provided by this Government. This is funding that the Deputy probably votes against in the Dáil, when we try to pass budgets.

It is 42 years later.

The Deputy has a job to do, and I wish him well in it, which is to stand up to say everything is terrible in rural Ireland. I do not believe it-----

False promises.

-----and I do not believe the people believe in it. I look forward to taking our case to the people.