Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, on his election and appointment as Taoiseach of our country and Government. I congratulate all colleagues in Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents who are assuming ministerial office today and others who will assume ministerial office in the days to come. I very much look forward to working together in partnership for the next five years. We have much to do.

It is clear to me from the very detailed and thorough negotiations we undertook on the programme for Government that we have a very strong, shared understanding of the scale of work we must do and the scale of delivery we must achieve. Between us, we have a very clear mandate from the Irish people, which I believe is summed up in one word, "delivery". This has been re-emphasised by our parties, in the case of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, in an extraordinarily strong endorsement through our respective ratification processes. Where my party is concerned, we had a new process for the first time, which entailed five regional meetings right across the country and which really energised me and the elected members of our parliamentary party as we embark on this new Government.

For Fine Gael and the Fine Gael Ministers appointed here today entering a fourth consecutive term in government, we are very conscious that this is an historic opportunity. We feel the weight of our responsibility keenly and we are looking forward to serving the country to the best of our abilities. Personally, I am deeply honoured to be appointed Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence at a time when I consider these to be critical portfolios for the continuing success and the future security of our country. Ireland's place in the world has never been more important. We are a small, open economy and that model has served us extremely well. We are also a proud and active member of the European Union, with the many advantages of the Single Market. We are, however, much more than just an economy. Ireland believes in multilateralism and international law and we will always use our voice to stand up for what is right, be that in Ukraine, the Middle East or our work through the excellent Irish Aid in the global south.

As Tánaiste, I will continue the expansion of our diplomatic strengths through Global Ireland. We will not only increase the breadth of our influence by opening new missions but, crucially, we will also increase the depth of our influence with new skills and focus in our existing embassies and consulates, particularly trade depth. In the coming hours, I will convene a trade conference of all of our consulates and our embassy in the United States with the sole focus of engaging with the thousands of decision-makers of the Trump Administration and ensuring that they know the two-way relationship and strength of Irish investment in the United States. The United States is vital, but we will also bring new focus to the untapped potential of our diplomatic and trade relations across India, the Far East and South America. We will continue to protect our citizens abroad through the meticulous consular work that is carried out and the online transformation of the passport service.

We have no more important sets of relationships that the ones on these islands. The British-Irish reset has worked. It is under way. Our Governments are working closely together as partners, and that will be evident in the first intergovernmental summit. A new group of Ministers here in new roles will prioritise meeting their counterparts in Northern Ireland to ensure that every opportunity to work together is taken. I travel to Belfast all the time, but will officially travel to Belfast in my new role in the coming days for a round of official meetings. We are putting effort into our relationship, but we are also putting money into projects and infrastructure that matter through the shared island fund the Taoiseach referenced. Our bridge-building will be both physical and philosophical. Ireland will host the biggest international gathering of leaders that has ever come to our shores next year. As well as the EU Presidency, we will welcome 40 presidents and prime ministers for a summit of the European political community. I will prioritise the planning and execution of this, and a Presidency that showcases our country, while steering the EU agenda in 2026.

The Defence Forces is an institution that goes above and beyond. It serves Ireland with distinction every single day. When a naval ship sails over the horizon, when our Air Corps aircraft fly out of sight or when a battalion of peacekeeping troops leaves Dublin Airport, they may leave our immediate consciousness, but for the men and women of the only army in Ireland, the work has just begun. They do that work with skill, dedication and honour. I want thousands more young people to consider serving their country, community and families through a career in the Defence Forces. To achieve this, the biggest transformation in the Defence Forces' history needs to be followed through on. Investment has increased. Working conditions and pay have been improved. Together there is much more to do. Being militarily neutral but still having the ability to protect ourselves are not contradictory. We are investing in new aircraft, radar, equipment and vessels. We also need the biggest investment ever undertaken in facilities at our Army barracks, at Casement Aerodrome and Haulbowline.

On policy, Ireland will fully participate at EU level on all matters of defence. Our allies and colleagues in eastern Europe are under attack. Physical war rages on our Continent and cyberwar and espionage threaten us all. Defence cannot be an added extra and must remain at the heart of policymaking.

I move now to my Fine Gael ministerial colleagues who have the honour of being appointed to office today. I congratulate our deputy leader, Deputy Helen McEntee, on being appointed the Minister for Education and Youth, where I know she will prioritise a workforce plan for the sector, oversee increased capitation to schools, establish a new DEIS plus scheme to support schools with the highest level of educational disadvantage, the creation of a dedicated national therapy service in education, and continue to increase the number of special schools and special classes across the country.

I congratulate Deputy Paschal Donohoe on being appointed Minister for Finance again. His primary priority will be the overarching essential of ensuring the economic security of our State with a strong enterprise and fiscal framework which will prioritise economic and employment growth, competitiveness, fiscal responsibility and investment in innovation, energy and decarbonisation. He will, working with Cabinet colleagues, prepare and submit a new medium-term fiscal plan, which will set out sustainable budgetary plans for the next five years, and will, working with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, bring forward in the next budget a range of measures to help our small and medium businesses and help to contain energy costs for businesses and households.

I sincerely congratulate Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on her appointment as Minister for Health. She will oversee an absolute game-changer in marrying resources with reform by bringing forward multi-annual funding for our health service, developing a new workforce plan for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and advancing a statutory home care scheme for old people. I know she will also build on the significant progress which has already been made in transforming women's healthcare.

I am delighted to congratulate Deputy Martin Heydon on being appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, a role I know he will take on with great experience and energy. He will have many priorities in the time ahead but I want, in particular, to highlight the work I want him to undertake on Ireland's nitrates derogation renewal plan, on implementing an audit of all farm schemes with the intention of cutting red tape for farmers and in ensuring a farm succession scheme which supports generation renewal.

I congratulate Deputy Patrick O'Donovan on his appointment as Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, where his priority actions will be working with the Minister for Justice on the passage of a defamation Bill, ensuring stable funding for RTÉ and other public service broadcasters and accessible funding for local radio and print media, the redevelopment of our GPO, examining the feasibility of the minor capital works grants scheme to support arts and cultural facilities that are not funded through the Arts Council and continuing the vital roll-out of the national broadband plan.

I congratulate Deputy Peter Burke on being reappointed as Minister for enterprise, but this time as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, where his key priorities will be the publication of a whole-of-government action plan on competitiveness and productivity within the first year, launching The Year of the Invitation as a new tourism initiative, and publishing and implementing a new national tourism policy until 2030.

Crucially, we have agreed the establishment of a new small business unit in the Department to help bring a dedicated focus to this area.

I congratulate Deputy Naughton on being appointed a Minister of State attending Cabinet with responsibility for disability, which will be a vital role for all of us in government working across key Ministries to deliver the step change required in disability services. The Minister of State's priorities will be the publication and funding of a new national disability strategy; working in partnership with disabled people and their representative organisations to co-design improvements to services; identifying measures to attract and retain staff and developing a new work force plan for the sector; implementing the action plan for disability services; reforming the Disability Act 2005; and implementing the autism innovation strategy.

I commend and congratulate all Ministers, from the Fine Gael Party, the Fianna Fáil Party and Independents. I am excited to work with each of them in their respective briefs.

Aside from the individual ministerial portfolios I have highlighted, we face a number of key collective challenges that, as I said earlier, the public wishes us to address with renewed energy and focus. The need to make further progress on housing is intrinsic to the social contract in this country. It was a priority for all parties in the programme for Government talks and will be driven by us with a relentless focus on delivery, delivery, delivery. We will work together to bring a new focus to delivering the infrastructure required to bring our country to the next stage of its development and enable faster delivery of housing and much more. We will work together to prioritise investments across the justice system, recruiting at least 5,000 additional gardaí and building stronger, safer communities. This Government will be ambitious on climate action to decarbonise the economy, continue to reduce emissions and lead a revolution in renewable energy in pursuit of energy independence, while ensuring energy security, protecting nature and promoting a circular economy. Most importantly, at a time our country and our world yearn for stability, this is a Government that will deliver five budgets. That is vital and that is our mandate. We will continue to have the fundamental commitment to deliver at all costs.

I believe we have got the balance right between investment and reform. We stand at the outset of a five-year term that will see significant advances in the social, economic and environmental goals we share and fulfilment of the mandate given to us by the Irish people. For my own part, I am excited and energised to play a leadership role as Tánaiste and to work with this talented team of people. I pledge to work relentlessly on delivering the programme for Government in the interests of the people of this great country. Go raibh maith agaibh.

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