Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Taoiseach paid close attention to the Tánaiste's Ard-Fheis speech last weekend, given Fine Gael is one of his partners in government. There is no doubt we witnessed a political transformation, unlike almost anything we have seen for the past 20 years. Having been an enthusiastic Tory fiscal conservative for his entire life, the Tánaiste has seen the light. There were so many spending commitments announced on Saturday that Fine Gael delegates must have been checking to make sure they were at the right event.

I will try to list some of the promises, but there were so many I may inadvertently leave some out. They included a commitment to build 40,000 houses per year, an extra €4 billion per year for the health service, expanded medical card eligibility, occupational pensions, a living wage and more money for welfare payments, all paid for not with tax increases but some vague sounding growth at a time the economy recovers from the pandemic, we are coping from Brexit and our corporate taxes are set to reduce.

I wonder if the Taoiseach is fearful that the next time he is down in Dublin Bay South, he will come across a Fine Gael bus with a big sign on the side of it stating there is €4 billion extra per year for the HSE emblazoned on the side of it. The Tánaiste's other political inspiration, Boris Johnson, found that kind of stunt useful. Given imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I am gratified the Tánaiste has taken on some of the Social Democrats' policies, including improved public services, better pay and conditions for workers, a social welfare safety net in order that people to live in dignity and much increased State investment in housing. However, I am not sure he is a credible person to deliver on this given Fine Gael, after ten years in office, has not managed to reach the Rebuilding Ireland target of 25,000 houses annually, never mind 40,000 houses.

Meanwhile, 1 million people are currently on hospital waiting lists and it has taken Fine Gael ten years to realise the problems with gifting a new €800 million maternity hospital to a private company with a religious ethos.

Was the Taoiseach warned or even consulted in advance of these announcements? Are we to understand that the health budget will increase by €4 billion every year from now on? Will that come as a surprise to the Fianna Fáil Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly? Is the Fianna Fáil Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, down in the Custom House planning the delivery of 40,000 houses? I hope so. Who in Government is deciding fiscal policy? Is it solely a Fine Gael remit? Does the Taoiseach stand over all those commitments and, just as important, does he stand over how they will be paid for?

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