The Taoiseach and the Government gave specific commitments to the Irish people some months ago. A number of documents have been published relevant to the conduct of the affairs of the nation – the Fianna Fáil manifesto, the health strategy and the national development programme. Commitments given by the Taoiseach have not been honoured at home and international commitments in terms of Ireland's overseas aid have not been honoured. What the Taoiseach and individual Ministers say on behalf of Government are completely irrelevant, they do not mean anything.
In the context of commitments given, 200,000 people who had expected to be given medical cards are now severely disappointed; 25,000 people on waiting lists had expected those lists to be eliminated; and thousands of young people have had their dream and aspiration of house ownership shattered because of the withdrawal and abolition of the first-time house buyer's grant. Does the Taoiseach accept that he is undermining the democratic system and debasing politics by making statements, giving commitments and making promises that are clearly nothing but a web of deception? The people have been deceived to a point where Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are back in Government, the financial situation and management of the country is in a complete shambles and people are frustrated, disappointed and angry at what has happened and by statements coming from the Taoiseach and his Ministers. Even at this late stage, will the Taoiseach reverse what has been his latest cynical and cruel announcement in the Book of Estimates last Thursday, to do down many of the commitments he gave in the past six months?