Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The programme for Government and revised programme for Government were based on a number of issues, including the prospect of the Government completing a full term, which now, obviously, will not happen, and the prospects of completing the programme in a much shorter timeframe, as ambitious as it was, is not available to us. Therefore, we have outlined the legislative priorities for the remainder of the term that is before us. That is a realistic and proper way to proceed. There are many reforming pieces of legislation that can be considered by the Oireachtas in the future. Unfortunately, there are some which will not be completed in this term.

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