Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Point taken. Two thirds of the consolidation of the public finances occurred before this Government came to power. The Taoiseach was then the leader of the Fine Gael Party and opposed every single measure. He attacked our cuts to consolidate the public finances. Along with the Labour Party, he opposed every measure and gave the impression things could be done differently. The public is disillusioned because so many promises were made prior to the election and breached. Examples include child benefit, respite care, and third level grants, where the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, signed a solemn pledge to the students of Ireland on the steps of Trinity College to reduce the €500 increase and swear there would be no increase for the duration of the Government. The Labour Party said it would do that and that child benefit would not be cut. In respect of the disability aspects of the programme for Government, the breach of promise and commitment was stark from the beginning. The Taoiseach's reply was that there was no need to change the programme for Government. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, does not agree and has clear views on the need to change the programme for Government. Matters within the Labour Party may be responsible for that. At the very least, the programme for Government should be corrected because it contains things that will not happen. Budget decisions have gone against much of what is in the programme for Government in respect of disability and home helps. Comparing the home helps section in the programme for Government with what has happened shows they are opposites. It should be more accurate and more reflective of what is happening through Government decisions.

There is no progress on universal health insurance. The health insurance industry is almost in a death spiral, with thousands leaving the insurance industry. Reserves, particularly in the VHI, are in difficulty and need capital injection. There will be further significant cuts in health services. There is a sense that the centre cannot hold in the health services and no massaging of the figures will change it.

The Taoiseach referred to a figure of 250,000. We have had a major banking crisis, which is not unique to Ireland. It does not suit the Taoiseach's narrative to say that. He can talk about the best year since 2006. I was the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2006 and it was a very good year for the IDA. That is not the whole story in terms of employment. The Taoiseach referred to research. Science Foundation Ireland was initiated over a decade ago and has proved very successful. Before that, I initiated the PRTLI programme. Combined, they transformed the research landscape in the country. That is helping in terms of the innovation and research to which the Taoiseach referred. It is in not within the frame of the Taoiseach to acknowledge these fundamental transformations occurred in research or in terms of the financial services centre in Dublin and its 30,000 jobs that are still there.

With regard to disability, does the Taoiseach agree to be faithful to what is in the programme for Government and home helps or else correct it? The programme for Government talks about the abolition of the Seanad as a clear commitment, along with an appeals court and a referendum on the patents treaty. This would mean three referendums in the autumn. This has not been presented to the House. With the budget to be announced in October, and a full legislative calendar, how will the referendums be handled? What is the timeline in terms of the Bills that must be produced and when will the information pertaining to the referendums be produced? Can the Taoiseach give an assurance on the time to debate the matters or will he rush these constitutional changes through the House?

Some months ago, the Taoiseach indicated to the House that he would give us early sight of the proposals. That was in February 2011, and he said he had the details of the Seanad abolition worked out at that stage. Recently, the Taoiseach told me he had many papers on it and I asked him to publish the papers so that we can have an informed debate on the issue. The Taoiseach winked across the floor at me and said that he could not be doing that. As we are getting closer to the summer, I would have thought the Taoiseach would be in a position to polish the proposals on the abolition of the Seanad and the other items of legislation.

I recall the Taoiseach promising that he would keep report cards on Ministers.

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