Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

One day, if Deputy Doherty can ever form a Government or can find people in this House who wish to form a Government with him, he will realise that you go out to the people and seek a mandate from the people on your manifesto. You get as many votes and seats as you can in Dáil Éireann. If you do not have enough seats to form a Government, you then seek other parties in the Dáil to work with you. You then sit down together. You bring your policy proposals and they bring their policy proposals and you agree a programme for Government. The programme for Government is then the contract between the people and their Government and the contract between the Government and the Civil Service. It is what we answer for in this House. The programme for Government is very clear in its commitment to progressively increase the rent tax credit during the lifetime of this Government.

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