Michael Noonan
Question:6 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the Action Programme for the Millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30973/01]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - An Action Programme for the Millennium.
Progress on the Government programme is kept constantly under review. Deputy Noonan will be aware that we recently published the fourth annual progress report. The action programme and its mid-term review contain 535 specific commitments and today, over four years after the last election, more than 80% of the objectives and action points have either been achieved or been significantly progressed. In implementing our commitments, we have introduced and implemented one of the most ambitious legislative programmes in the history of this State. Since this Government took office on 26 June 1997 an unprecedented 184 Bills have now been enacted. In addition, there are currently 44 Bills before the Oireachtas.
Given the scale of the Government's legislative programme and the large number of specific commitments set out in the action programme, it would be impossible in the time allotted to give complete details of the immense amount of progress we have made. The cornerstones of our action programmes were based on our desire to build a better Ireland for everyone and our core promises at the last election were to cut unemployment, taxes and crime and to work to build a lasting peace on this island. We have delivered spectacularly on all of these.
We said we would cut unemployment and we have. No Government has done more in addressing one of the major sources of disadvantage in our country, that of joblessness. We have been responsible for the implementation of policies which have led to the creation of over 310,000 jobs, a dramatic reduction of unemployment from 10.7% to 3.7% and of long-term unemployment from 4.6% to 1.2%. Being so close to the ideal of full employment is the biggest social achievement in the history of the State. It is a fact that there are over 1.7 million people at work in this country today. Our employment growth rate is among the highest in Europe and despite the recent economic downturn the live register has been cut by almost 50%. This means that we are in a much better position to cope with the short-term economic difficulties which are now facing the world.
We all know that the events of 11 September have hit the world economy badly and Ireland cannot expect to be immune to the impact of major international economic changes. However, I believe we have every reason for confidence in our economy even as we face into more difficult international economic circumstances. We have a sound economy, sound public finances and a sound approach to business and trade policies. Despite the downturn we are now facing in the short-term there are many positive assessments of the medium-term prospects for the Irish economy. These include estimates that a growth rate of close to 5% per annum is perfectly attainable over most of the decade. This would exceed the rate of our EU partners and support further improvements in tackling disadvantage and unemployment. In the future we will continue to implement policies to make certain that every single unemployed person in this country is offered every opportunity and support to get back to work in their own locality.
We said we would cut crime and we have. Figures have fallen by an unprecedented 25% since this Government took office. Alongside the drop in crime the detection rate for recorded crime has increased significantly over our period in office. Ireland now has a detection rate of 42% compared to 21% in the USA and 26% in the UK. This is simply because, as we promised, this Government has given the Garda Síochána the resources to police our streets, waterways and airspace as never before.
We promised to cut taxes and we have. We have introduced large tax cuts in every one of our five budgets which has meant real increases in take home pay for all sections of the labour force. As pledged, we have reduced the standard rate of tax from 26% to 20%, delivering on our pledge one year early. We have reduced the higher rate of tax from 48% to 42%. In total, we have cut tax rates by 12 points. We have been commended by the EU Commission for having a tax system that bears least heavily on the low paid. Our record over five budgets puts paid to the distortion that Fianna Fáil policy favours the better off. As the Minister for Finance pointed out on budget day, of the £3.78 billion or 4.8 billion we have provided in tax reductions, 43% has gone to increasing the basic tax allowances and a further 22% in taking over 370,000 taxpayers off the top rate of tax.
Within three weeks of our return to power the IRA announced another ceasefire. The Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent referendums clearly demonstrated that the people of this island wanted their politicians to put in place and operate the structures set out in the Agreement. Most aspects of the Agreement have been implemented. I am very proud of the record of my Government in setting out an ambitious programme, earning the support of the electorate and implementing its promises in office. Over the remainder of our term we will complete this work and be in a position to present to the people an unprecedented record of delivery and achievement.
Additional InformationThe Garda Vote has increased by 48% since this Government took office and by 2002 we will have increased the number of gardaí by 1,200. Over 1,200 additional prison spaces have been provided in our prisons building programme. We have ended the revolving door syndrome in our prisons and have invested unprecedented funding in crime prevention measures. Credit is due to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has enacted more legislation than any predecessor.
The last Government merely cut the standard rate of tax by one point. Over our term we have provided more in personal tax reductions than any other Government and almost £2.5 billion more than the last Government. We have beaten the record of the last Government ten-fold in removing taxpayers from the tax net. Over all our budgets, 380,000 taxpayers have been removed from the tax net compared to 38,000 removed by the Rainbow Government. In this year's budget 68,000 people will be removed from the tax net.
In budget 2002 further substantial progress has been made towards our intention to increase the income tax entry point towards the level of the minimum wage. In this year's budget, by increasing the basic personal tax credit and the PAYE tax credit we have raised the entry point to the tax system for a single person to £165 per week. When we came into office the relevant entry point was £77 per week. The entry point to the income tax system will now be at 90% of the current minimum wage.
On 2 December 1999 the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement were established and the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, enshrining in particular the principle of consent, took effect. The Government continues to work closely with the British Government and with the political parties in Northern Ireland to secure the implementation of outstanding aspects of the Agreement. Recent months have seen progress on an agreed new beginning on policing, demilitarisation and decommissioning and on the inclusive operation of the institutions.
On page 18 of An Action Programme for the Millennium there is a commitment by the Government to introduce a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to promoting access for people with disabilities to public spaces and facilities and the whole of the transport chain. Could the Taoiseach explain, for the benefit of the people outside the gate in wheelchairs who intend to stay there over Christmas, why this commitment, which was made almost five years ago, has not been implemented?
I stated on the Order of Business this morning that I would ask the relevant Ministers to deal with that matter forthwith and I have done so. They have had an index related increase in their allocation for this year but they are making some further demands for places and I have asked the Minister concerned to deal with that matter as quickly as possible. I hope it will not be necessary for them to stay in those circumstances for too much longer.