Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I tried to practise bilocation not very successfully for the last hour or so. I apologise for my absence for the Minister's speech, but I have read it. In the country-specific areas applicable to this country, how do we compare with other European countries and how well are all other European countries complying with the objectives laid down initially, which I agree with and with which we all must comply? Are all European countries, large and small, fully complying with the general thrust of what we are doing in this country? We have had to do it because if one does not have the resources to expend, one must cut one's cloth according to one's measure.

Second, the CSRs cover public finances, health care spending, active labour market policies, social inclusion, access to finance, non-performing loans and so forth. In the area of health care, how do we compare with our colleagues across Europe in spending on health care, that is, the ratio of spending per capitain this country compared with the best in Europe, as well as the efficiency with which we and they can deliver services? I am conscious that we all have a particular role to play across Europe in addressing the issues that have beset Europe in the past number of years. In view of the sacrifices the people in this country have made and the sacrifices politicians had to make to take very unsavoury decisions, I would like to think that everybody was shouldering responsibility to the same extent.

The semester process is better than its predecessor in that it provides for regular review of the targets. Previously, there were no reviews of the targets and by the end of the ten year period we were in a situation where no target had been met and there was insufficient or partial monitoring. Breaches in economic performance were blatant everywhere but nobody knew about it until it was too late. Clearly, this country is adhering to its programme and is delivering to the best of its ability in difficult circumstances. How do we compare with all of our colleagues in the European Union, particularly in the eurozone? The danger in a situation such as this is that those countries that were seriously in error or deficient in their performance initially might get all or most of the attention, while others that could do with a little attention might not receive the same regulatory experience.

The Pathways to Work scheme has been discussed. The one-parent family payment has arisen repeatedly. Both parties in the Government have been criticised about it on the basis that it was somewhat uncaring. I do not believe it was. There is provision to ensure that no loss of income should take place for the individual families. That must apply and if it does not, somebody is not doing the job the way it was intended to be done. In my experience, there is no need to encourage lone parents to do anything. They will do it themselves. That is the nature of the individual. They want to do the best they can in their circumstances. They will go to work as a first option, as opposed to a last option. Lest some European bureaucrat gets the impression that people here are living a cosy lifestyle and that we only do things at their behest and as a last resort, that is not so. In fact, in my time in public life, and I have been in public life for a year or two at this stage, I can assure the Minister that the efforts of lone parents to seek employment are exemplary, without exception, even though they are in very difficult circumstances. What is the comparison across Europe? What is determined in one country might not apply in another.

I wish to refer to two further points. The first is climate change, the extent to which we must comply with less dependency on fossil fuels, the degree to which we can achieve our targets and the extent to which all other countries throughout Europe are achieving targets as well and making the same sacrifices that we will have to make. We must ensure somebody does not take advantage of the situation in the European Union and say, for example, that the food sector in Ireland is a carbon rich area that puts a high level of responsibility on the economy here to produce alternatives. It is correct that it does. However, it should be possible to achieve the standards required across Europe without doing damage to our economy or to the other economies in Europe.

The last issue is bank performance in respect of mortgage arrears, restructuring targets and SME debt. Every Member of the House, including the Minister, has struggled with this problem for the past six or seven years. In general, the people have shouldered their responsibilities admirably. There will always be a minority of people who will see an opportunity to make a quick buck and who will suggest that if enough people opt out they will not have to pay at all. I hold no brief for those people. However, there is a body of people who have been very responsible. They found themselves in difficult circumstances six to eight years ago, which they had great difficulty working out. Some of it was due to the collapse in the housing market, some was due to the collapse of business, some was the result of the collapse of their health and some was the result of unemployment. However, they have faithfully managed to make a payment throughout the entire period, be it from their social welfare or whatever. They continue to pay to this day.

It is very difficult to accept the attitude of some financial institutions. They say the scene has changed, they are now over the difficulties and it is time to go back to traditional systems and methods. My response is, "not so fast". The lending institutions also had a role in, and responsibility for, what happened to this country. It was not a small role or responsibility. It is fine for people to say we must return to the way we were, clean up our act and get everything in order, but we are already doing that. It is happening. However, there must be a graduated system whereby those people who made the effort are recognised for making that effort. That must happen in this country and throughout Europe. Our European colleagues must recognise the sacrifices that many people, families and businesses in this country have made over the past number of years. Doing so would be significantly to the advantage of the European project, and obviously to us as members of the European Union.