Ba mhaith liom cead a chur in iúl mar eolas don Dáil gur chuir mé m' ainmniú mar Thaoiseach in iúl don Uachtarán agus gur cheap sé mé dá réir.
I wish to state for the information of the Dáil that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be Taoiseach and that he has appointed me accordingly.
I move:—"That Dáil Eireann approve the nomination by the Taoiseach of the following Deputies for appointment by the President to be members of the Government":
Deputy Ray MacSharry
Deputy Brian Lenihan
Deputy Desmond J. O'Malley
Deputy Gerard Collins
Deputy Gene Fitzgerald
Deputy John Patrick Wilson
Deputy Martin O'Donoghue
Deputy Michael J. Woods
Deputy Patrick Power
Deputy Albert Reynolds
Deputy Raphael P. Burke
Deputy Brendan Daly
Deputy Pádraig Flynn
and
Deputy Seán Doherty
It has been the practice at this stage to indicate the Departments to which these Ministers will be assigned. They are as follows:
Department of Finance—Deputy Ray MacSharry.
Department of Agriculture—Deputy Brian Lenihan.
Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism—Deputy Desmond O'Malley.
Department of Foreign Affairs—Deputy Gerard Collins.
Department of Labour and the Public Services—Deputy Gene Fitzgerald.
Department of Transport and Posts and Telegraphs—Deputy John Wilson.
Department of Education—Deputy Martin O'Donoghue.
Department of Health and Social Welfare—Deputy Michael Woods.
Department of Defence—Deputy Patrick Power.
Department of Industry and Energy —Deputy Albert Reynolds.
Department of the Environment —Deputy Raphael Burke.
Department of Fisheries and Forestry —Deputy Brendan Daly.
Department of the Gaeltacht—Deputy Pádraig Flynn.
Department of Justice—Deputy Seán Doherty.
The Government will, in due course, appoint Ministers of State and I will inform the Dáil of these appointments after they are made.
I should like to explain that I have allocated the members of the Government to the Departments on the basis of the existing divisions of responsibility. I do not, however—and this has been stated from our side of the House before — regard the existing allocation of ministerial functions in some areas as satisfactory and I will be making new dispositions in these areas. I am speaking in particular about the areas of Energy, Commerce, Industry, Trade and Transport. For the information of the Dáil, I propose to nominate Mr. Patrick Connolly, SC, for appointment by the President as Attorney General.
It is customary for the Taoiseach to say a few words on the appointment of the Government and the manner in which they hope to undertake their responsibilities. The return of the Fianna Fáil Government to office today is an historic occasion since it marks the 50th anniversary of the election of the first Fianna Fáil Government in 1932.
Since that day our people have always looked to Fianna Fáil for good, stable Government as an essential precondition of the achievement of our national objectives and of our country's economic and social progress.
Previous Fianna Fáil Governments have, from time to time, relied on support in the Dáil from Deputies outside the ranks of the Fianna Fáil Party. We welcome such support. It has not prevented us in the past from performing our duty to the nation, nor will it prevent us from doing so now. We believe that the entry of this Government into office will bring the political uncertainty of recent times to an end, and initiate a period of the kind of political and parliamentary stability required for effective Government.
We face major economic difficulties but this Government do not intend to spend valuable time decrying our situation, nor do we propose to engage in the negative politics of berating our predecessors. Our people now want a positive outlook, a new start and an end to political uncertainty and economic gloom.
The immediate task is to implement a budget. We have already indicated an outline of how the budget proposals introduced in January should be altered. We will now see how that budget can be recast so as to increase employment, mitigate inflation and increase social equity. We will, also immediately be setting to work to produce, in consultation with the social partners, an emergency plan to deal with the unemployment crisis. We have already outlined a number of measures designed to boost capital investment and jobs in the construction industry. We will also work assiduously to prevent factory closures, and to stem job losses.
We also intend to treat as a major priority one of the areas most affected by high unemployment, the inner city of Dublin. The revival of the inner city of our national capital is in the interests of the whole nation. Our aim is to recreate a Dublin of which the nation can be proud, and to provide an imaginative approach to a problem which exists in many other countries.
Our success in dealing with these problems will be a headline for similar areas in every part of the country.
In the light of the Supreme Court decision on controlled rent accommodation urgent action is required to avoid hardship for a large number of tenants, many of whom are elderly, before existing arrangements run out towards the end of next month.
This Government are determined to use every lawful means to protect the safety and security of the State. Our aim will be to provide proper protection for all our people so that they may go about their daily lives in peace and safety and without intimidation. We will firmly and impartially uphold the law of the land, constitutional democracy and the rights and liberties of the individual.
The successful attainment of our new social objectives will call for a new approach both in the formulation of our policies and in their application and administration. We must create a society of greater equity and equality in keeping with our traditions and the solemn commitment made in Easter Week to cherish all the children of the nation equally.
The world economic environment in which the Irish economy functions is at last showing some signs of improvement. World trade is forecast to increase this year and accordingly a major export effort will be required so that we can take full advantage of this opportunity.
World oil prices have begun to fall and I intend to carry out immediately an indepth examination of every aspect of our energy situation having special regard to the fact that we are paying more, pre-tax, for our oil products than anywhere else in Europe.
We will look later at the price of gas and at the potential for reductions in the price of petrol and other oil-based fuels, and the operation of the ESB's fuel variation surcharge mechanism. A reduction in the oil import bill this year would have major implications for the economy and, together with other factors, could assist us in bringing about an improvement in our balance of payments deficit.
No one contests, however, that we still have to face a very difficult economic situation which will call for prudent management, discipline and restraint for some time to come. Unemployment will not be mastered overnight. Inflation must be brought down to the European norm as rapidly as possible. High interest rates are having a crippling effect not only on family budgets but on production and investment both in industry and agriculture. It would appear, in addition, that inadequate provision has been made for health, for housing and for other special priorities. We face formidable problems, but we will deal with them with courage and determination, imagination and vision.
When in Government, we mounted with considerable success a major effort between August 1980 and June 1981 to rescue Irish farming from despondency and depression. The situation has not greatly advanced since then. It is a problem that we have to tackle now with renewed vigour, and the new Minister for Agriculture will be immediately plunged into intensive farm price negotiations in Brussels. We will be seeking a substantial overall price increase with whatever special measures may be necessary, and we will strongly defend the long-term future of the common agricultural policy.
The first political priority of this Government will continue to be the quest for a solution to the tragic problem of Northern Ireland. It is the gravest of all our problems which, for too long, has distorted relations between Ireland and Britain, has been a severe drain on our resources, and continues to endanger Irish lives and livelihoods. No opportunity can be lost which offers any prospect of finding a lasting solution.
It is my hope that progress will be resumed on the political initiative begun by the British Prime Minister and myself in Dublin Castle in December 1980. While I would welcome any political progress that might be made between the two communities in Northern Ireland, overall responsibility for satisfactorily resolving the problem lies with the two sovereign Governments and must be exercised by them.
I attach great importance to the development of the Anglo-Irish Council structure and to the incorporation of an effective parliamentary tier to the council structure and, in this connection, I look forward to consultations on any new initiative brought forward by the British Government.
The economic crisis in Northern Ireland, which is of a more acute and deep-seated nature than the difficulties we are suffering here, makes it essential that political stability be restored and that closer economic co-operation between the two parts of Ireland be established.
We look forward to, and will actively seek to bring closer, the day when the rights of self-determination of all the people of Ireland will again be exercised in common, and when the final withdrawal of the British military and political presence takes place. We shall seek the active encouragement of the British Government and international backing and support for our efforts to bring all the parties involved around the conference table where we will be prepared to go to very great lengths indeed to meet and accommodate the interests, identity and aspirations of all the traditions on this island.
A Cheann Comhairle, an invitation which was extended to my predecessor has now been extended to me by President Reagan to lunch at the White House on St. Patrick's Day, and I have been honoured to accept this invitation. While it will be difficult for an incoming Taoiseach to undertake a visit abroad so soon after coming into office, the bonds of friendship and the ties of kinship that exist between Ireland and the United States of America ensure that the acceptance of this gracious invitation takes precedence over all difficulties.
The immediate task of our Government will be to restore confidence on a basis of stability which we alone are capable of providing. We will strive to govern with courage, enlightenment and imagination and to mobilise the resources of our country to return to the path of progress and achievement. We will move away from the abnormal and depressing atmosphere which has recently prevailed. We will create the opportunities that our young people need and the comfort and security that our older people have earned.
In pursuing our economic, social and political objectives, we shall seek and listen to advice, guidance and constructive criticism from every side of this 23rd Dáil.