Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What I wish to see is a Republic where citizens can be proud to hold citizenship, where the economy is well run, where services are provided for those who need them and where, when a health issue arises, people have access to treatment based on their requirements, as distinct from what they have in their pockets. I wish to see a country in which there is opportunity for young people and, as I have stated many times, that proves to be the best country in the world in which to do business, the best country in which to raise a family and the best country in which to grow old with a sense of dignity and respect. Given the economic situation the Government inherited, it is not possible to do this overnight, so that is what I want from government. The mandate given to me and to the Government, comprising these two parties of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, is to sort out the public finances, run them properly and put the country back to work. This means the Deputy also has an involvement in this, with any constructive suggestions he has to make about employment opportunities, internships, apprenticeships and attractiveness as a location for investment. However, the Deputy's general theory is to be opposed to all things pertaining to Europe. He wanted it to go away with its money when we were deeply in debt, which would have led to a very different situation. Deputy Adams should note I do not agree that because a person has a disability he or she is deemed to be a non-citizen. The Deputy, together with every taxpayer in the country and the Exchequer, provides substantial moneys to a range of organisations to provide services for persons with a range of disabilities. Everyone accepts this. The situation has now arisen whereby in the case of the Central Remedial Clinic, the Committee of Public Accounts, the watchdog for the public, has been obliged to involve itself for hours on end and was given a litany of facts that were not the truth before Christmas in respect of certain matters. That is a committee during its job in the interests of the public, and this will apply to all charities in order that they can prove they are in compliance with what is good public policy.

I listened to some of the presentation given by the chief executive of Irish Water in which he gave an exhaustive, comprehensive and detailed account of the expenditure and the services received for that expenditure in the setting up of a major public utility. The Deputy's own party representatives were on those committees, asked relevant questions and made their comments, the same as anyone else. Is there anything in there that still is not public enough for information to be had by people? I think that-----

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