The Ministers of State, Deputies Harkin, Grealish and Canney, and Deputies Toole, Heneghan, Nolan and McGrath - who have voted against the Government by the way-----

Do not forget Deputy Lowry.

Thick and thin.

Yes, and Deputy Lowry. I will just make the point that the only name that comes from you is Deputy Lowry, not the others. There is a problem there.

Because he is the ringleader, he was the negotiator.

He is the kingmaker.

We need as a Dáil to respect the mandate of every Deputy in this House.

You do not respect us.

What I have witnessed over the last while is a very deliberate attempt to undermine the rights of certain Independents.

By you.

There are other Independents, by the way. Other Independents need to be facilitated as well, in my view. That was part of what was meant to be in the facilitation of non-aligned TDs. By the way, many Opposition TDs come to meet me on different issues or they will raise issues with me. I will always try to respond, as do Ministers.

You have not responded to our letter.

Michael Lowry, the question I asked?

We have always had that tradition in the House where we try to respond to issues that people will raise with us. I respect the mandate. People are elected here. Again I come back to this. The most fundamental obligation after a general election is to form a Government. I take that seriously, along with the Tánaiste.

You said that.

Thank you Taoiseach, time is up.

The Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties were short the requisite majority to form a Government that could last four to five years. That is the genesis of this in terms of the Regional Independent Group wanting to co-operate----

Thank you, Taoiseach.

It is the deal that was done. That is the genesis there.