Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Obviously, he could have said what was the legal advice available.

March next will be an appropriate time to have an annual review of the performance of Government in so far as the commitments in the programme for Government being fulfilled are concerned. It is quite sizeable, more sizeable than I had considered.

As I stated, there are 26 clear commitments in the programme that are now delivered on in this budget. This programme is for a full Government term. Deputy Martin can take it from me that one of my clear priorities is that Ministers deliver in so far as politically and constitutionally possible on the commitments that are in the programme for Government. I hope to drive Ministers on to that. We have set the ceilings for Departments for the times ahead. Clearly, there has been a great deal of work done in respect of MOUs and troika legislation for this session. Next year we must focus, obviously, on the question of Europe, but also on the clear challenge to the country in the context of employment, job creation, labour activation measures, investment opportunities etc. Those will be our clear priorities to provide work.

All of these matters have a bearing on the commitments in the programme for Government. I look forward to saying to Ministers that they have a big challenge between now and March, I want to see X, X and X delivered in their Departments and to get on with it, and if there is a reason they cannot deliver it, then to tell me why.

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