Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Taoiseach that this is an important draft agreement. I do not accept his assertion that I make impositions. I made it clear that this party will contest the next general election on the basis of three serious programmes that are related to how we conduct politics in here, how to change our health system from a two-tier system to a universal health care system that will bring about efficiencies, make the patient central to that change and enable the Government to employ more front line people as nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and so on, and a major investment programme in job creation. We would co-ordinate the State agencies and other State bodies to a much greater extent.

Everybody can recognise the value and the work of our public servants, such as our teachers, nurses and gardaí. Many of them work exceptionally long hours in a dedicated fashion. The system strangles their initiative. We must find methods to change that so that our public servants are enabled to give their best in the interest of all our people. That is what an efficient public service should be about.

There are structural problems running through the entire public service that will need serious negotiations to overcome. I accept the references that the Taoiseach read out. I asked him whether the projected €1 billion shortfall in tax receipts constitutes unforeseen circumstances, but he did not reply to that.

See this speech in context