Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Does the Taoiseach agree that one of the defining features of this Government is its commitment to over spin even the smallest of moves and to brush aside solemn commitments, no matter how recently made? The list which the Taoiseach outlined represents a triumph of optics over substance. The decision of the IMF and the troika reflects the tough budgetary decisions taken in advance of the election. That is the essential reason we are on track from a fiscal and monetary point of view and in the first three months of the year nothing substantive was done in that regard. I look forward to receiving a full report rather than an over spun and selective list.

Does the Taoiseach agree that, after 100 days, he has not fully established his Government? The Minister, Deputy Howlin, who is in charge of a Department, has gone longer without answering questions than any other Minister in the history of the State. He published 29 pages of amendments to the 23 page Bill which provides for the establishment of his Department. The Government is not properly established in terms of portfolios and accountability.

I ask the Taoiseach about the commitment he made to direct all Ministers to focus entirely on their new portfolios and avoid constituency work in their first 100 days. Every Minister is doing constituency work and as many as 100 people are employed on the public payroll to help them. The Taoiseach needs to explain why he broke that commitment. Whenever he is caught breaking a promise, he blames everyone but himself. His decision to break his promise on constituency work has nothing to do with the last Government.

Where are the lists and scorecards he compiled on Ministers and when will they be published? He may recall that when he appeared on the "Late Late Show" he told the nation that he is keeping a scorecard for every Minister and he informed the Dáil that he has agreed a specific list of issues which Ministers were required to deliver within 100 days.

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