Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am about to.

Ireland's recovery will not be through necessary taxation increases and expenditure cuts. The belief the Irish need right now from the Government will come from a commitment to reform, proceeding differently, leading by example, and changing the political system before asking people to change their households. There is nothing about this in the four year plan.

Fine Gael has made a commitment to reduce the number of national public representatives by 35%. We are going to change the way this House operates and the way in which decisions are made. We are going to put in place an independent fiscal council which will give to Opposition parties resources similar to those available to Government parties. We will not keep people in the shade in the way those currently in government have done during the two years of this crisis.

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