Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I completely disagree with Deputy Martin. The Cabinet sub-committee system is working very effectively. It brings about a focus on objectives set by the Government. Ministers, agencies and organisations are given a high level of response. For example, in the health area the programme for Government sets out the overall objective of the Government and what it wishes to achieve. The work of the Cabinet sub-committee and the Cabinet follows towards that objective. A great deal of work has been done on the HSE governance Bill, which is necessary legislation. This morning the Cabinet approved for the Minister to draft legislation on the banning of smoking in cars containing children, who would suffer otherwise as a consequence, and on risk equalisation legislation for private health care which is also necessary. The legislation to be drafted and produced in respect of health is extensive. Suffice it to say that we want to achieve the introduction of universal health insurance and a single tier system, including a strong primary care and community care systems, where money follows the patient and where people are entitled to a health service based on their medical needs rather than the amount of money in their pockets.

I made it clear today that questions of detail about the complex and extensive Bill dealing with the mortgage situation will be dealt with in full and at length on Friday. Ministers will give their report on the Bill in its entirely. The questions Deputy Martin or anyone else wish to raise will be dealt with. We sought to avoid a situation today where, by answering one element of one detail, people would make a range of assumptions about what might or might not be in it. This will bring great clarity about the Government's intention to radically overhaul the legal system by bringing about a first in Irish law in respect of personal insolvency. It will also give a great incentive to banks to deal on a bilateral basis with certain borrowers to work out a solution while keeping the interests of the people at heart such that they do not lose their homes.

This is not an isolated issue. Deputy Martin will be aware that the Government published the findings of the Keane report and that it met the regulator and the banks. The Government has required that they respond on the options, measures and facilities they intend to introduce for borrowers who are suffering from mortgage distress, negative equity and so on. It is interesting that while these are challenging times, the majority of people are still meeting in full their mortgage payments. The Economic Management Council, EMC, will meet the banks this evening. I assume the banks will want to inform the Government of the measures they intend to introduce. The Government will brief the banks on the approval of the personal insolvency Bill. The details will be available on Friday when it is published.

In addition, the Minister for Social Protection will continue to develop the website with information and advisory services in respect of mortgages. This will provide people with information on where they can access assistance and the level and nature of assistance available. This is also important.

Deputy Martin referred to the Cabinet sub-committee on economic recovery and jobs. We published the action plan for jobs in February, containing some 270 propositions. These are being monitored and overseen by my Department, where a special unit has been set up by redeploying people, together with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton. The next tranche of the programme is due to be published inside a short time. Ministers, agencies and organisations are aware of this and they have responded well so far and have made arrangements to have the relevant sections completed.

I agree with Deputy Martin that the employment situation is not as we would wish it; we would prefer if it were much stronger. This is where the priority of Government lies and this is the reason legislation on partial loan credit guarantees is going through and the reason the micro-finance agency has been announced by the Government and by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This is also the reason the Government is preparing an investment package, in so far as a stimulus can be put forward, to focus on this matter comprehensively and urgently.

Deputy Martin is aware that the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform renegotiated the memorandum of understanding with the troika such that in respect of the sale of State assets whenever the Government decides to do so, the resource represented by a State asset can be used for investment and sustainable employment. It has taken some time to get the structure right. Everyone would prefer to see a greater take-up in the indigenous economy for the purposes of job and employment but this is where the focus of Government lies. I assure Deputy Martin that Cabinet sub-committees operate to timelines, that they are achieving objectives and that a great deal of impetus and emphasis is put on this.

Credit is due to the organisations and public servants who have worked exceptionally hard in respect of the personal insolvency Bill, a vast tome of legislation. When Deputy Martin sees it, he will understand and appreciate the effort put in by those in the Department of Justice and Equality, other Departments and the officials in the Office of the Attorney General to get this right. It will provide a clear incentive for banks and lenders to sit down with borrowers and work out bilateral arrangements in respect of which banks have been recapitalised and so that people will not lose their homes and a solution can be brought about to their mortgage problems.

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