SEANAD REPORT:IT WAS disappointing that Dr James McDaid had resigned from the Dáil at a time when moral courage was required, acting Seanad leader Dan Boyle (Green Party) said in response to an observation by Fine Gael leader in the House Frances Fitzgerald that the huge uncertainty internationally about this country had been "fed" by the resignation.

Ms Fitzgerald observed that the cost of borrowing by this country continued to rise to record new highs, and she noted that, in his letter of resignation, Dr McDaid had spoken of decision-making being focused on what was politically possible rather than what was economically necessary.

Mr Boyle said he took the point made by Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan that it was not the place of the Seanad to discuss how the Dáil was run. “But I will say that such decisions are disappointing in the respect that we have very difficult decisions to make in this country and it’s a time, as Senator [Paschal] Donohoe (FG) said, when we require level heads and a certain amount of moral courage that requires people being present when those decisions have to be made.”

Mr Boyle said he believed that those who craved a general election in advance of agreement on the four-year plan and the introduction of the budget risked adding to uncertainty.

It would not help the country if two political parties gained an advantage in an election when they did not have common positions on issues such as public-sector reform, taxation and an approach to cutting public expenditure, he said.