I understand there is agreement to dispose of the Motion and the amendment thereto:
Private Members' Business. - Economic and Social Programme: Motion (Resumed).
The following motion was moved by Deputy Quinn on 10 July 1990:
"That Dáil Éireann, conscious of the historically high levels of emigration, aware of the continuing 16.5 per cent. rate of unemployment in the labour market and the present crisis in agriculture, concerned at the regressive impact of Government cutbacks in health, education and housing, views with alarm the Government's disarray in the ordering of its domestic legislative programme and its total failure at EC level to spell out a clear and formal position concerning Ireland's interests in Economic and Monetary Union and Political Union within the European Community, anxious to ensure positive economic and social progress within the process of the completion of the Single Market by 1992, demands that the Government prepare and publish a comprehensive economic and social programme in consultation with the Oireachtas by December, 1990 so as to restore political and social confidence by all of our people in the ability of the Government and the Oireachtas to meet the needs of our society.
Debate resumed on the following amendment:
To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann", and substitute the following:
"—welcomes the transformation of the economy since 1986 which reversed the economic stagnation and declining living standards of preceding years; improved the public finances following the record high current budget deficit of 1986; reduced the National Debt/GNP ratio following the virtual doubling of the Debt in the four previous years; restored growth to the economy at an annual rate of 3.5 per cent; increased employment; reduced unemployment; enabled substantial real increases in social welfare benefits and significant reductions in income tax rates; brought about low levels of inflation and interest rates; and increased exports which brought the balance of payments into surplus; recognises the central role in these achievements of the policy strategy of theProgramme for National Recovery; acknowledges the contribution of the various social and economic partners to its successful negotiation and implementation; and urges the Government to maintain its successful efforts to promote economic and social progress, based on a further Programme of Development agreed between the Government and the social and economic partners; and, with the support of the European Community and the co-operation of the social and economic partners, to prepare the economy to confront successfully the challenges of the Single Market and Economic and Monetary Union”
—(Minister for Finance.)
Amendment put and declared carried.
Motion, as amended, put and declared carried.