Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I do not agree with the Tánaiste's analysis. She has published her 47-point plan but most of the points are on minor issues. The whole idea of this review was for the Tánaiste to shake up her Department and get it ready to take on new opportunities and new threats. That has not happened and the results speak for themselves. The fact that more than 400,000 people are unemployed and businesses cannot get credit are two examples. The Department has failed. As a major Department, it was specifically asked to engage with other Departments on cost-cutting measures to drive the competitiveness agenda. It has failed in that as well.

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