Senator MacSharry spoke about connection to the people and the Taoiseach’s lack of such connection. I suggest to him that the Taoiseach and the Government have cleared up the mess his Government left them-----

What about the people?

-----and are creating jobs, which is of paramount importance. When one sees 80,000 jobs-----

I charged him with disconnection from the people.

-----created since the Government came into being-----

Jobs for the boys.

A total of 250,000 jobs were lost in the private sector in the three years.

Senator Mullen was right.

I know Senator MacSharry does not like to hear the facts, but it is the case that 250,000 jobs were lost in the past three years of the Government of which Fianna Fáil was a part. I suggest there was a very big disconnect between the Government and the people, and the people showed that that was the case.

The people have adjudicated in the election. We must now hold the Government to account.

The Leader should be allowed to respond without interruption.

Senator MacSharry has a neck to talk about a disconnect.

I do not need a neck; I have a mandate, just like Senator Cummins.

The Leader should be allowed to speak without interruption.