Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

11:00 am

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The programme for Government is designed to implement a series of measures that will restore Ireland's good fortune and restore the opportunity for people to have prosperous lives, careers and work opportunities. This requires dealing with a range of problems - the banks, unemployment and job creation initiatives - as well as the central question of closing our budget deficit in Ireland, which is part of the reason for a comprehensive spending analysis and review. That is our business and that is what we have to deal with. As a Government, that is where we are focused.

In respect of the European Council, the Deputy is aware that, under the Treaty of Lisbon, the President of the Council - in this case, President Van Rompuy - is the person who determines the preparation of the agenda for the continuity of the work of the Council. He does that in co-operation with the President of the Commission and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Committee. No less than four weeks ahead of a regular meeting, the President submits a draft agenda to the General Affairs Council in close co-operation with the member state holding the Presidency and with the President of the Commission.

I have responded to questions here before. I expect not only to attend the meeting, but to participate in an inclusive fashion in the discussions that take place about the situation, as we see it, in so far as Europe is concerned and the challenges that Europe faces.

Deputy Adams is aware that, in the programme for Government, we are committed to realising €2 billion in respect of the sale of non-strategic assets at the appropriate time and under appropriate conditions. He is also aware of the list of potential assets submitted by Mr. Colm McCarthy, who made a series of recommendations, but the Government will, in due course over its lifetime, decide which non-strategic assets should be sold, in what conditions and in what respect. There is no intention of impoverishing anyone. What is involved is rectifying the trouble our country is in economically. This is an economic challenge and the support and contribution of everyone will be required to meet it. That is what we will do.

On Thursday and Friday, I will participate in the discussions that take place at the European Council meeting. I expect to meet all of my colleagues there during the course of the two-day summit. As appropriate, I will raise the issues in respect of Europe and in respect of Ireland, as I see fit at the meeting. Obviously, the big issue is consideration of issues arising from the vote of the Greek Parliament to set out on a road of serious austerity measures. In so far as Ireland is concerned, we are in a programme, we are meeting its demands and conditions, challenging though they are, and we are heading in the right direction. Our job and the Deputy's job is to point out initiatives that can take place that help our indigenous economy, restore confidence and get our people back to work. The Government will make its decisions in due course for debate in the House about how we close our budget deficit. The decisions made must be based on priority, maintaining services and doing more with less.

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