Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

As the Deputies are aware, the core focus of the renewed programme is to stimulate sustainable economic recovery and job creation. It sets out the agreed areas of focus for each individual Minister whose duty it is to ensure that those commitments within their particular portfolios are implemented.

As I have stated on many occasions, we all have to adapt to changed economic circumstances. The international environment, while showing signs of recovery, is still fragile. Our focus is to stabilise our finances. Furthermore, we need to increase the competitiveness of the economy such that when the economic recovery takes place we are best positioned to take advantage of that recovery. The renewed programme for Government takes account of these realities and sets out mechanisms that will allow us to achieve these objectives.

The implementation of the renewed programme is an ongoing process which takes account of developing circumstances including the availability of resources. A progress report detailing the programme's implementation is the subject of ongoing evaluation and will be made available shortly.

See this speech in context