Healy distances himself from all parties as Fine Gael motion is defeated

The new Independent TD for Tipperary South, Mr Seamus Healy, distanced himself from all the parties in the Dail when he made his maiden speech during the resumed debate on the Fine Gael private member's motion critical of the Government's record.

Mr Healy said his vote against the Government did not mean he had confidence in the opposition parties. "The tax amnesty was co-sponsored by the Labour Party in government. Fine Gael finance ministers turned a blind eye to widespread tax evasion by the rich through bogus non-resident accounts. All three parties are responsible for the two-tiered society. That is why all three parties lost the by-election."

There was deep anger among Fianna Fail supporters, he said. "Thousands of honest people who have worked hard for their communities, who never got any reward, and who never expected any reward, are enraged that their loyal service to the Fianna Fail party should have been so abused."

The motion criticised the Government's performance on the economy and noted the "widespread public outrage" at Mr Hugh O'Flaherty's nomination to the European Investment Bank, and the "dilatory and evasive" performance of the Taoiseach in dealing with difficulties relating to Fianna Fail TDs.

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said as a member of the health board and public representative he had daily experience of the many shortcomings of the health services.

"Health is for sale as a commodity in Ireland today. A constituent told me recently that she was informed by a specialist that she could avoid a two-year waiting list if she paid a hefty sum in fees. If you have the wealth to avail of expensive private care, you need not worry about escalating waiting lists."

He added that it was totally inexcusable that there were 14,000 people waiting over a year for a hospital bed and that there was a shortage of medical staff.

Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) said the entity purporting to run the State could not be described as Government. "There is a discredited Fianna Fail party, with increasing numbers of terrified backbenchers, resting on 10 wobbly legs, four nervous PDs, four pseudo-Independents, and two strays from Fianna Fail, cast, temporarily at least, into the wilds.

"The real nature of Fianna Fail, the main component of this excuse of a Government, was dramatically displayed at the Moriarty tribunal, when a former chief fundraiser explained how the Fianna Fail party opened shop in the plush Westbury Hotel three weeks before a general election. "From 9 a.m. until late at night, Fianna Fail personnel received there the rich and the powerful, as they came to give large financial contributions to assist the party."

The Fine Gael spokesman on justice, Mr Jim Higgins, said the Minister for Justice's much-vaunted zero tolerance had failed, with an increase in violent crime. "The Minister, and every other Minister, should go."

Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) criticised Mr O'Flaherty's nomination, adding that the Taoiseach should show backbone, admit that a fundamental mistake was made, and have the nomination withdrawn.

The Fine Gael deputy leader, Ms Nora Owen, said that if the Government had any decency and self-respect, they would come back into the Dail next week and deal with some of the serious issues that had arisen in the last few days. "Instead, they cannot wait for 4.30 p.m. on Friday, so they can scurry into hiding, away from the scrutiny of the House and the people." Ms Theresa Ahern (FG, Tipperary South) said that people wanted, and should be able to expect, an explanation for the sleaze and the scandals, "a full explanation, not a half-excuse and the old Fianna Fail mantra of `that was then, this is now, and we knew nothing."'

She said that the Government, despite its arrogance and hype, was incapable of responding to people's wants and needs. "People with disabilities and their carers and advocates have been treated to lecture after lecture, announcement after announcement, launch after launch, photo opportunity after photo opportunity.

"But in real terms, how many of the Government's promises have been fulfilled ? How many people with disabilities, or their families, have had their lives transformed by real and radical action carried out by this Government?

"We have had fine words aplenty, but they butter no parsnips. The reality is that for people with disabilities barriers to participation remain insurmountable and change . . . is coming painfully slowly."

Mrs Ahearn said that new building regulations, relating specifically to access for people with disabilities, would not be fully implemented until 2003.

"People with disabilities may face another three years of physical exclusion from public buildings. That is a sad state of affairs for the Government which promised so much and delivered - in real terms - so little."

An amendment to the motion, endorsing Government policy, was carried by 73 votes to 70.