Vol. 416 No. 2
61 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if recent comments by a Government Minister, that all Government proposals in the revised Government programme of 1991 had failed with the previous Government, apply to all Departments; if this necessitates the introduction of a new programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am not aware that any Government Minister spoke precisely in the terms suggested by the Deputy's question. I presume, however, that he is referring to specific proposals prepared by the previous Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications in relation to landing requirements for transatlantic flights which were not at any stage approved by Government, and to the fact that the new Minister has indicated that she is completely reappraising the situation.
This issue was not referred to in the revised Programme for Government, and her remarks have no relevance to or implications for any of the Government's continued commitments in the revised programme, which are in no way affected by the recent changes in the composition of the Government.
There is no constitutional doctrine, which requires the cancellation of all previous commitments made in such circumstances. Where Government decisions or agreed policy statements are concerned, the presumption on the contrary is one of continuity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The lapsed proposals referred to in the Deputy's question, as I have said, did not have that status, because they were never approved by Government.
