Jim Higgins
Question:1 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the elements of the Joint Programme for Government 1989 which have been carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Joint Programme for Government.
As stated in the opening paragraphs of the Programme for Government 1989-1993 in the national interest, the agreed objectives in that document together with the objectives set out in the Fianna Fáil document National Recovery — The Next Phase constitute the programme to be implemented by the Government. This programme together with the Programme for National Recovery and the National Development Plan form the basis of Government policy over the four years to 1993.
The Government's programme is steadily achieving its objectives. I would like to cite, inter alia, some fundamental achievements such as high economic growth, continued correction of the public finances, falling unemployment, increasing employment, reductions in income tax rates, moderation of indirect taxes, the environmental action programme, the extension of urban renewal areas and special social welfare increases. I would also refer the Deputy to the report of the Central Review Committee under the Programme for National Recovery, which summarises the economic and social achievements of the programme.
In the light of the words about steady progress towards the achievement of the goals set down in the Joint Programme for Government 1989, might I remind the Taoiseach of the cornerstone section which states that at the end of 1989 the new Government would bring forward detailed proposals for reform of the Oireachtas and in that process would examine, among other issues, the procedure of the passage of legislation through the Dáil, Seanad etc., as well as a commitment to local government reform? Will the Taoiseach not acknowledge that this document, which is a kind of a verbal sticking plaster to bind together two essentially alien partners, has failed to deliver where it counts? More people are unemployed this week this year than this week last year, our best and brightest people are overseas, the hip replacement and orthodontic queues are getting longer, mortgages on average are £100 a week higher than they were this time last year——
This is becoming a very long question.
——one third of the population are below the poverty line and agriculture is in chaos.
I have to dissuade the Deputy from putting questions in this form. It is not in order.
Let me ask one last supplementary. Will the Taoiseach acknowledge that this is the record of an indecisive Government following a failed Thatcherite monetarist philosophy?
I am taking this as Fine Gael's reply to the recent polls.
I thought the Taoiseach did not believe in polls.
Would the Taoiseach not agree——
Now look what you have done.
——that the only significant achievement of the Government in relation to its environment action programme, for example, was to defeat a perfectly sensible Fine Gael Bill on an environment protection agency? Would he not further agree that the only achievement of the Government so far in another area where reform was urged on it by this other party, not present here today as far as I can see, has been to postpone local elections until next year?
No.
Is the Taoiseach now trying to say that he is changing his mind about the environment protection agency and the local elections?
The Deputy must be pleased at the postponement, with only 23 per cent of the poll.
Twenty three per cent would look very bright to Deputy Gallagher going into the local elections. He has not a hope.
A Aire Gallchóir, a chara, will you please understand that this is only a little bit of playacting on their part to divert attention from their massive plight and disgraceful rating in the polls.
The master of the puppet theatre speaking.
What happened to the Taoiseach last year who was 55 per cent entering the general election?
This makes a change from the Fianna Fáil performance in the Seanad.
We must move on to Question No. 2.