The Minister for Justice has sharply criticised the Fine Gael leader. Describing Mr Michael Noonan as Fine Gael's "abominable No-man," Mr O'Donoghue said the Irish people had worked too hard for the advances and achievements of the past five years to entrust them into his care.
"This country needs a coherent and united government. It needs a government which will make prudent plans and stick to those plans. The alternative to this Government is not a rainbow government or a kaleidoscope government - fractured, distorted and all over the place."
For the past five years, Fine Gael had been a party with nothing to say and all day to say it, he added.
"Last year, they finally got the leader they deserve: Michael the Magician. As a parliamentarian Michael Noonan was disappointing, as a minister he was a disaster, as a leader he is truly unbelievable, but as a magician he is genuinely top class.
"Look at his record. First, he made John Bruton disappear. Then he made half of Fine Gael's support disappear. In May, he is going to make a third of Fine Gael's parliamentary party disappear. And by June, he will have disappeared himself."
As was the norm at the ardfheis, a succession of delegates praised Mr O'Donoghue's record in the Department of Justice. Some expressed concern about underage drinking.
Mr Michael McGrath, Passage West, said the problem existed in every town and village in the State. "Underaged drinking respects no social class or section of the community, and its emergence is a menacing threat to the very essence of our society."
Mr O'Donoghue said public drunkenness and disorderly and violent behaviour were unacceptable. "Legislation alone will not remove the problem, but it does play a part. We have already introduced measures to deal with the problem, and in the immediate future I intend to strengthen further the powers of gardaí to ensure that they and the courts are given the powers necessary to quieten areas where there is a significant level of public disorder."
He said a heavy duty rested on the owners of bars, clubs, discos, off-licences and fast-food outlets to ensure that the manner in which their premises were being run did not contribute to public disorder.
"If premises are run in a manner which creates a problem, we will ensure that the courts have power to close them."
The Government's campaign against public disorder and street violence needed public support, said Mr O'Donoghue.
"Nobody forces people to become drunk. Nobody forces people to engage in public disorder. Nobody forces people to engage in violence.
"Each results from their own voluntary decision. Our strategy is fourfold: remove the cause; police the streets; arrest the perpetrator and foster a public attitude that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and criminal."
