Taoiseach tells Opposition they have nothing to offer

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern staunchly defended the Government's record in office as he attacked the Opposition, whom he said had nothing to offer but "cynicism and scorn".

During a rowdy and boisterous private members' debate in which Fine Gael and Labour demanded an early general election, Mr Ahern claimed that the Opposition's "formula for winning power is politics minus policy".

Their "strongest argument is that after waiting all of their political lives to secure a mandate for government, now it is their turn". He had a message for them: "No one has an entitlement to govern.

"It is an insult to the public to come in here tonight and pretend that you have even begun to engage in serious debate about the future of this country."

He said directly to Mr Kenny that "there is more to leadership than ambition", and he accused the two main Opposition party leaders of doing "nothing except complain, mislead and promise everything to everyone", while the Government "has worked with the people to deliver success".

The Taoiseach said that in March 2004, Deputy Kenny promised a comprehensive policy programme within 18 months, but had yet to deliver it.

"Fine Gael and Labour could write their comprehensive programme on the back of a postcard from Mullingar."

"If keeping promises in Government can sometimes be really difficult, breaking them in Opposition takes real genius."

He said the Fine Gael and Labour leaders had a single issue agenda. "It's power. Afraid of the issue and having nothing new to offer, they are trying to patent policy free politics."

There was constant cheering from the Government benches and heckling interruptions from the Opposition, who persistently called for the right to intervene to make a "point of order".

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell also defended the Government's performance and hit out at the policy divisions between Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens.

"On simple issues like Europe you are hopelessly divided. Where are you on neutrality, where are you on subjects which are serious in the political sphere. You are hopelessly divided."

With more heckling, interruptions and applause, Mr McDowell claimed that Mr Kenny had failed miserably to honour a promise to produce an alternative programme for government in 18 months so that the electorate would have a clear choice before it went to vote .

"If you are breaking promises in Opposition, God help us when you get to government," he said.