Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

The package announced yesterday was a dismal, sad effort without vision or hope. In addition, it was unfair and unbalanced. The real problem is that the Government is still in denial about the background to the problem. It will not accept that its own neglect created it. Last night the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was asked about responsibility. He stated everybody was responsible and then that nobody was responsible, that we had hit a wall. In the name of goodness, a Government in such a state of denial does not deserve to be in government.

Coupled with this were the tortuous secret negotiations that occurred without transparency. They have caused great concern among those who had no idea what was going on. I received an e-mail from one of the Garda representative bodies this morning and noted that it was not involved in the talks, yet it has been hit by the pensions levy such that individual gardaí must now pay an extra €5,000 or €6,000 without having any idea why.

Before I address public servants, let me refer to the cut in overseas development aid of €95 million. I have been interested in overseas development aid all my political life. Must we literally take bread from the mouths of the starving people of the world to solve our problems? To me it is entirely unacceptable.

A few points arise on the question of public servants. They believe they were individually focused. As far as they were concerned, and without any reference to anybody else, the proposals were savage. The proposals appear to be quite unfair as far as the lowest paid are concerned, who will gain nothing whatever from the contributions. There also appears to be an anomaly, especially in terms of those who came into the public service in recent years who are already making a contribution. Will they now have to pay an additional contribution?

We should remember that all these public servants will be caught for the extra levies that were introduced in that dreadful budget last October. The real problem is that there was no consultation of any kind and there is a lack of communication and a lack of understanding on the part of the public service. I accept the public service will have to make a contribution the same as anybody else but this was not the way to do it. A lead should have been given.

I focused on questions lately about foreign travel, not because I am against foreign travel. The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, is present. He has to go to Brussels and negotiate on the Lisbon treaty and other matters. I did it myself when I was in the Department. However, it has to be proportionate and reasonable and a lead has to be given in that regard. That is what I am asking. I am not making any point other than that. Reference was made to Ministers of State. If that area was tackled it would be some kind of example from the Government.

What I really wish to see from the Government is some message of hope and reform. Are we just into a cut, cut, cut situation? Where is the focus on jobs? Where is the focus on enterprise? Does the Government not see there are significant areas that can be tackled that do not cost money?

One area that annoys me is planning. I know it is not popular to be in favour of development and enterprise but I am in favour of it. I accept many developers abuse their situation but we need development. We have a ridiculous situation now where there are bureaucratic obstacles to people seeking planning permission. In some local authorities a 40% invalidation rate applies, namely, in Limerick, Dublin, Waterford and Galway, yet it is down to 8% in Sligo, Wexford and Louth. Why is that the case? Why do we have huge delays for planning appeals? We need development. I do not suggest we lower the standards but if projects are going to be granted let us encourage development. I note from the most recent report of An Bord Pleanála that only one quarter of all appeals were disposed of within the statutory timeframe of 18 weeks in 2008. How can that be justified?

Why do we not examine the other bureaucratic problems such as those in regard to foreshore licence applications? One would want to be mad to develop a marina at the moment but if one wanted to do so it would take about ten years before one could do it due to all the bureaucratic obstacles. Why do we not examine the possibility of developing community employment schemes to deal with the unemployed? Why do we not abolish the silly rule stipulating double time on Sunday that is closing hotels, restaurants and pubs around the country? Why are all those things not being done?

The message I wish to give to the Government is that it must resolve the public finances — a problem it created itself largely. In so far as they are reasonable proposals we will back them. At the same time, let there be a focus on enterprise and development. Let us look at the plight of the unemployed and the need for enterprise. Let us do what we can to encourage enterprise and get people back to work again.

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