Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I refer to an unrelated but equally important matter. On the programme for Government, the alleged basis on which the Government operates, given that the three component parts thereof are no longer in situ, with the signal demise of the Progressive Democrats who helped to negotiate it, that none of the three leaders who negotiated the programme — Deputies Bertie Ahern, Mary Harney and Trevor Sargent — is any longer a party leader and that we have a very new and very different situation economically, socially and politically throughout the jurisdiction in these straitened economic circumstances, does the Taoiseach accept that the programme for Government is no longer applicable? What is required is a realistic addressing of the need for a new programme for Government. Will the Taoiseach recognise the need to negotiate a new programme? Will he accept the advice of all parties in the development of such a programme, which would be appropriate to the present situation?

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