Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am very familiar with the way in which the Cabinet sub-committees worked in the previous Government. The Taoiseach is right. There are too many and they are too dispersed. However, on strategic issues, the Taoiseach being a driver makes it happen in a way it would not if he was not personally driving matters.

Of what particular policy areas does the Taoiseach propose to take personal control? For example, has he considered Sláintecare, the new future of health care document? Does he consider it worth implementing, albeit not necessarily according to the exact timeline set out by the all-party group? Would it be something he would want to drive?

I spent more than five years discussing the fiscal rules in respect of capital spending with the Commission and others. There is a willingness. For example, Italy has already utilised flexibilities in accounting for capital spending in particular.

I welcome the Taoiseach's view that coincides with my own regarding the rainy day fund. We need a substantial capital envelope, and we will be able to get the capacity if we negotiate and push in Brussels for a very substantial increase in the capacity to spend and not breach the Stability and Growth Pact rules.

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