Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Earlier, the Taoiseach mentioned the recent reports from the National Economic and Social Council. It is fair to say that its analysis is valuable and I am interested to know whether the Taoiseach agrees with it - that there is a five-part crisis, namely, a fiscal crisis, a jobs and competitiveness crisis, a social crisis, a reputational crisis and a banking crisis. Does the Taoiseach agree with that analysis?

Second, does he agree with the reports' analysis that, to date, the Government's actions in this regard have been compartmentalised and sequential? Part of the criticism made is that the Government has addressed the banking issue as if it is a separate issue without looking at how it impacts socially on people in difficulty with their mortgages or in debt and that the Government is dealing with the fiscal crisis as a bookkeeping exercise without considering how it affects employment. Does the Taoiseach agree with the analysis by the National Economic and Social Council in terms of there being a five-part crisis and with its criticism that to date, the Government's approach to the crisis has not been integrated?

While the National Economic and Social Council has put forward a coherent analysis it has not put forward serious and realistic propositions in terms of how each of the five issues can be addressed. However, analysis is easy and solutions are difficult. Given that all the social partners are involved in that forum has the Taoiseach considered asking NESC to come up with proposals in regard to how the five issues could be addressed in an integrated way?

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