asked the Taoiseach when it is proposed to publish the third programme for economic expansion.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Third Programme for Economic Expansion.
1.
Preparatory work on a third programme for economic expansion will proceed in association with the detailed assessment of the implications of membership of the European Economic Community and its effect on the economy. It is too early yet to say when the programme will be published, as its timing will depend on the course of our negotiations with the EEC. In the meantime, interim planning will proceed on the lines which I indicated on the 25th July last when speaking in this House on the motion seeking approval of the decision to reactivate Ireland's application for membership of the European Economic Community.
Could the Taoiseach say if this next exciting instalment will include the solution to the mystery of the disappearance of the fantasy known as the Second Programme for Economic Expansion?
Or will it entail arrangements for a State funeral, with adequate notice given so that we may all attend suitably attired?
You are all very facetious early on.
Will any indication be given as to the extent of progress or lack of progress made?
The Deputy must not have listened to or read my speech when I said that there was a review proceeding and that it would be based on the statistics available after the first two years and of the experience gained so far and that it would be published in the spring of next year.
We heard all that before. The review was promised in spring this year; then it was promised in summer; and now it is to be published some time next year.
Is the Taoiseach prepared now to acknowledge the fact, which is apparent to everybody, that the so-called Second Programme has been a manifest disaster?
I would not accept that at all. We have not reached targets in certain respects and we have reached them in others.
In taxation.
In an economy like ours, we cannot expect to achieve all our targets without having regard to a lot of factors, both internal and external.
I would like to ask if this so-called programming is any more than stargazing? Is there any conscious effort in this programme to drive the economy on an even keel?
The First Programme for Economic Expansion enabled us to make greater economic progress than was ever achieved in this country.
The Taoiseach's pipedream.