Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

No. The Tánaiste is referring to the 25% target in respect of regulation, which is entirely different. The report also calls for a national competitiveness strategy. Developing such a strategy should also be a matter of policy for everyone and proposals in this regard have already been put forward by Fine Gael.

The report also calls for the entire joint labour committee, JLC, system, particularly as it relates to premium rates of pay, to be overhauled. That is another policy which Fine Gael supports. Further, the report refers to reducing employers' PRSI across the board. Fine Gael proposed this in its alternative budget. The report also proposes changes to corporation tax.

Other proposals contained in the report include a workshare arrangement for those who work short time. My party has also made proposals in this regard. The report suggests that additional resources should be allocated in order to encourage people to remain in education and training. This is similar to the national internship programme and the second chance education scheme proposed by Fine Gael.

The report also makes proposals in respect of capital spending on projects relating to the N18, the N20, the Adare bypass, the Foynes Port link and the Northern Ring Road. In its alternative budget, Fine Gael proposed that the capital budget should not be cut. However, the Minister for Finance reduced it by €1 billion in the budget.

The report proposes the establishment of a commission to consider the boundaries in the area, a move I would support. There are other proposals in the report which I would support and others with I would not. One of those I would support is that which suggests using the energy complex that comprises Ardnacrusha, Tarbert and Moneypoint as a possible avenue for developing alternative renewable energy. This very much fits in with Fine Gael's NewERA strategy. The report also refers to merging the different State agencies operating in the mid-west, which is worthy of consideration.

If we are going to establish task forces, then it is important that the Government should take into account the reports they submit. There is no point in appointing a task force, waiting for it to report and then making a speech in the House which does not in any way take cognisance of the work of the task force. It is as if the Tánaiste did not read the report of the mid-west task force or as if that report is irrelevant.

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