Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend and thank the Taoiseach for the unusually clear way in which he dealt with the question about Cabinet confidentiality. Under the programme for Government, that was to be legislated for, but the Taoiseach has stated that he has no plans to legislate. He could be of some service to the State if he entered the Chamber one day with the programme for Government and took the same approach. That would save all of us a large amount of time. I commend this suggestion to him.

I will deal as briefly as I can with two important issues contained in the programme for Government, one of which is health. There is a range of measures and promises to provide for a new health system. The results of this are evident in the Euro Health Consumer Index, which sees the placement of our health services drop by eight points from 14th to 22nd. Furthermore, it finds that the Government's waiting list data "lacks credibility". Last Friday, the Minister for Health produced his health priorities.

His seven priority areas and 85 specific actions or deliverables are basically the same, and as many as were in the programme for Government for almost four years. Clearly, therefore, the programme for Government is not delivering on matters concerning health.

In respect of economic recovery, the programme states that, as a long-term goal, "The Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced and which recognises the need for social solidarity". That commitment has not been delivered upon, however, for the 500,000 taxpayers who have been forced to flee overseas. Neither has it been delivered to the one third of our children who live in poverty, nor to the one third of citizens who cannot afford the basics. Instead, we have had water charges, property tax, cuts to child benefit, and extensive cuts to health and welfare. Thousands of vulnerable families have been traumatised by the Government's disgraceful handling of the medical cards issue.

I will not take up time because two other Teachtaí Dála want to contribute. I wish, however, to commend what I said previously. There is only so much the Taoiseach can do in a Government's term of office. Would he therefore not be better off telling us the things he is not going to do? That would allow us to focus on the things he is going to do.

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