You were not really interested in going into government.

You had no interest at all. You had none. Your manifesto was so threadbare in any detail that it was no wonder.

The Labour Party did not want to go into government------

The Labour Party did not want to go into government because it was watching you. You are both watching each other. You are both nervous of each other, so therefore you did not come forward.

Sinn Féin did not have the numbers to form a government-----

-----and Independent Ireland had some issues that we did not find agreement with but at least its members came in and engaged with us in a substantive way. The Regional Independent Group said they wanted to support and facilitate the formation of a government.

That is not new, by the way. That is not new.

This has been a feature of our fragmented system.

Our electoral system has in recent times and will in the future create a fragmented result. The danger in what the Opposition is saying is-----

Say after the next general election in five years' time, a potential government is short three or four TDs. Why would three or four Independent TDs volunteer to facilitate the formation of a government?

Why would they?

Why would they do that if it meant-----

-----that the rest of the Opposition said, "We are going to deny you your rights as TDs if you dare facilitate and support the Government". Looking at it from my perspective-----

-----and from a constitutional perspective, it is quite an extraordinary thing you are trying to do here which will actually-----

-----undermine any potential for the formation of a government into the future.

You are now basically saying that no Independent in the future-----

You are not a leader yet, Deputy.

I did not get a chance to finish what I was saying.

Westminster.

Deputies, I am making the point in answer to the question - in fairness the Deputy has asked questions and I think I should be allowed the right to answer but other Deputies do not want me to because they do not like the answer.