Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Where is the strategy to protect Ireland from the worst threats posed by global difficulties? It is commonly accepted that, under this Government and the Tánaiste as Minister for Finance, we became too reliant on the property boom, which the Government fuelled. The rankings provided by the National Competitiveness Council show that we have slid 17 places and, in the past five years, lost export market share, which is the key to growth for a small, open economy. Does the Tánaiste agree with the council that, to restore cost competitiveness, a national programme driven by the Government with specific targets for utilities, where the Government is the key regulator, and other areas of public service pricing is necessary? Government-generated price increases have undermined our competitiveness. Does the Minister agree we need this sort of approach, which would confront matters like the excessive growth of quangos, excessive bureaucracy in many public services and better cost structures, and that we need a concerted drive to reinvent Ireland so we can be competitive in a tougher environment?

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