LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
From the Dáil transcript last night - for discussion
"When one asks Deputy Eamon Gilmore what he will do and what alternatives he will offer, one gets nothing. He is the head of a party full of talent, just like Fine Gael. One need only look at Deputy Joan Burton, who is a formidable contributor in Dáil debates and a formidable expert in her field and, similarly, Deputy Pat Rabbitte.... Unfortunately, however, Labour is a party that has put populism and pragmatism before realism. This is allied with a mind-blowing arrogance that hovers like a stale smell every time Deputy Gilmore opens his mouth.
"It does the country no justice whatsoever. Put simply, what Deputy Eamon Gilmore has done in the past six months has not been to peddle the politics of hope. We have had too many Obama analogies in this House. This is Ireland, a sovereign state. President Barack Obama is an inspiration to us all but we have our own people to inspire and we must do it with homegrown talent. If that homegrown talent lives up its abilities, we will do that.
"However, we will not do it by peddling the politics of hope while really peddling the politics of hypocrisy. We do not need to feed on the fear and cynicism that is out there. We need to show leadership.
"I say this to an almost empty Chamber but I say it anyway - let us think bigger, let us think about how we recover, let us think about how we work together rather than constantly carping at one another. It will be difficult. One has to defend oneself when one is insulted, but if Deputy Gilmore is serious about his offer to work together with the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, he should not say he will work with Fianna Fáil but only if Deputy Cowen is ditched. That shows a huge disrespect to the Taoiseach...
"...Rather than the arrogant posturing whereby Labour is willing to throw solutions the way of Fianna Fáil if it ditches Deputy Cowen, it should say that as of today there will be a new strategy for 12 months and that it is willing to work co-operatively. It should not seek to throw muck but to say to the people genuinely and honestly that these tough decisions have to be made, that it will try to get a consensus, work with the social partners and come up with the most equitable solution, but it is going to hurt - there is no other way for it."
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by spidermom
