Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In contrast with the plan published post our emergence from the bailout, the bailout programme had timelines. There were to be achievements in quarters 1, 2, 3, etc. In many respects, the objectives laid out in the document in question are not timelined. In that sense, they are aspirational. To control the agenda of our recovery without being distracted by events, we should apply the necessary rigour to meet our ambition to reach what is a better financial position for citizens. This can only come by having a timelined series of objectives across Departments. Regrettably, even the best intentions get waylaid. The Departments do not have the same rigour as applied during the bailout. The good governance of recent years was driven by that timelined series of events. There is a danger. Everyone is drawing a deep breath because the bailout has concluded, but we are not being driven by the same level of rigour that the bailout imposed on us as regards the significant objectives that remain to be achieved. Youth unemployment in particular is a major problem. Work needs to be done in every Department, for example, public sector reform, etc. We should drive that agenda relentlessly in the interests of the citizen. The rigour and timelining of events are missing. The Minister referred to reform of the legal profession, but that work drifted. Obviously, it has resumed and amendments have been agreed, but a range of issues across all Departments need to be driven with the same urgency if we are to get to where we want to be.