Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the progress to date in respect of the implementation of An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34098/04]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on progress on implementing those elements of An Agreed Programme for Government for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34099/04]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress to date in implementing An Agreed Programme for Government. [1459/05]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the implementation to date of An Agreed Programme for Government. [3497/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on progress in implementing the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on progress to date in implementing An Agreed Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

Progress on the implementation of the Government programme is kept constantly under review. Deputies will be aware that for every full year that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have been in Government, we have published an annual progress report. The second such report of the current administration was published on 1 August 2004. The report sets out the progress to date in implementing every commitment contained within the programme for Government.

It is the responsibility of each individual Minister to ensure the commitments in the programme that fall within their particular portfolio are fully implemented. The Department of the Taoiseach derives its mandate from my role as Head of Government. As such, it is involved to some degree in virtually all aspects of the work of Government. It provides support to me as Taoiseach and to the Government through the Government secretariat, the Cabinet committee system and through its involvement in key policy areas and initiatives.

The current key strategic priorities of the Department are set out in the strategy statement. They include Northern Ireland, EU and international affairs, economic and social policy, social partnership, public service modernisation and the information society and e-government. Both I and the Ministers of State in my Department answer questions in the House on these issues. In all of its work, my Department works closely with other Departments and offices. Individual Ministers are of course answerable to the House in respect of their own specific areas of responsibility.

The key areas for which my Department is responsible in terms of the agreed programme for Government can be broadly summarised as follows: supporting the development and implementation of social partnership, working with the British Government and the pro-Agreement parties to achieve the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in all its aspects, coordinating the e-government initiative to bring about an expansion in the range and quality of on-line Government services and ensuring that Ireland's key objectives in the European Union are carried forward in the context of my role as a member of the European Council.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Regarding the programme for Government, there is a good deal of concern about the way the country is moving. It moved so fast in ten years that it is unable to cope with the whole concept of planning for the nation's future. We have never had a proper discussion in this House about the national spatial strategy, be it good or bad, about its implementation, about the impact of gateways, hubs and the massive developments proposed and taking place.

Does the Taoiseach see a need to analyse where exactly we are and where he thinks we should be over the next ten to 15 years, given that the House has never even bothered to have a decent debate about the impact and consequences of the national spatial strategy, which impacts on every Department with regard to the programme for Government, be it good or bad, as outlined by the Taoiseach?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will not quibble but I think we did hold a debate on the spatial strategy. I think the Deputy is asking where we will go in that regard in the future. I am not saying the matter should not be debated in the House or in committees but the whole concept of the spatial strategy is that the local authorities in the first instance would have a large input into the basic guidelines which form the strategy as well as the centres and hubs for the future. They have a role in framing the guidelines for the future so they are not merely drawn up centrally but also through detailed local involvement. That is happening all over the country. As I understand it, most of the guidelines have now been drawn up.

Deputy Kenny is correct in saying that for the next 15 or 20 years there are enormous challenges faced by the relevant unit in the Department to co-ordinate the work and the guidelines with the local authorities because Ireland's population is projected to increase to 5 million in a short period of time. I am conscious the projections were not accurate if one looks back at the past 20 years. At one stage the population was projected as being less than 3.5 million by 2010 while the current projection for 2020 is 5 million.

There is a huge challenge in all of this. The guidelines have given rise to considerable debate. In Dublin city, more planners are trying to convince public representatives and others that the only way the city can now develop is upwards. I disagree with that but it is happening. In other areas people are looking at other issues. The ratios must increase in Dublin city as otherwise one will have sprawl everywhere. All these issues are reflected in the guidelines.

I am not sure if a committee of the House has looked at these issues but I know from the committee dealing with infrastructure there is a huge amount of work being done in the system, not merely in local authorities but in the various sections of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The studies done by those co-ordinating these matters are very good because they have looked ahead not merely to the next five or ten years but to the next 20 or 25 years. Admittedly we do not spend much time on these longer projections but at least there are people who specialise in that and they have done some good work in their projections for up to 30 years ahead.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach for that. There are however three areas on which we do not seem to have any national perspective — waste, energy and communications. Regarding waste, some landfills have been closed while others are opening up. Some can take waste only from specific areas while others are wide open, yet the Government is dealing with Dublin's waste problem by sending 200,000 tonnes of waste north every year, some of it being buried in south Armagh and some in other places. We do not seem to have a national perspective in this area. Local authorities feel the Government intends to foist incinerators on every area, despite page 15 of the programme for Government stating that "the mass incineration of unsegregated waste with no energy recovery is not an acceptable practice today".

Regarding energy, we are reliant on gas. We listened this morning to a member of the energy community talking about wind farming and the fact that there is no longer any incentive to provide that here as part of an alternative. There is no concept of where we should be in 20 years.

On communications, I have said before that we cannot wait around until the machines dig up every lane and bóithrín to install broadband. We need it fast and must move to wireless and satellite and get on with it so that one gives Bloody Foreland the same opportunities as central Dublin. If we do not do that in a national or regional sense, our population of 5 million by 2020 will all be focused on the semicircle of the greater Dublin region. That will create problems over the next 50 or 100 years if the Government does not take a long-term perspective now.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assure Deputy Kenny that all Departments and agencies must now work to the national spatial strategy in their overall planning, as must local authorities. I know there is always controversy when one tries to do something, but one works to the best international standards. It is envisaged that we will need four or five thermal plants for a country with a population of 5 million. In other countries people will have seen that there are practically no emissions. They are in city areas and built to the highest specifications. They have been rigorously examined in those countries and are effectively not political or community issues being reported on with regard to emissions. It is difficult to see how one can resolve those issues.

Regarding broadband, we are doing precisely what Deputy Kenny has said and it is being rolled out nationwide. Having had an admittedly slow start in 1998 and 1999, when some progress was made, we are fast moving forward, and in the last two years enormous strides have been made. In some areas, wireless technology and satellite operate, but in others one has to use what is being rolled out by the rail lines or by some companies that have re-engaged. They had disengaged for a few years because of their great accumulated losses on the 3G licences. However, they are now back working with the Department, and broadband is moving ahead.

Another project with which Deputy Kenny will be familiar is the great deal of work going on in the Atlantic corridor to make it an alternative hub to the east coast and get development into that area over the next decade. That is a good thing and it has been examined regarding roads, transport and electricity. There are some parts of the country, particularly the north west, where the ESB is now focusing on increasing electricity capacity. Otherwise it would not be at the requisite capacity in future. Those are investment decisions, but they have been well analysed. It is a question of their implementation.

There is an identification of the broad areas, though I am not saying everything is done or close to it. There are always pressures, but what is required has been well identified in the spatial strategy and by the various agencies, including electricity, gas, broadband, the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland. Although we are spending more on infrastructure in percentage terms than any other country, it is because of rapid growth and deficiencies over many decades, which exert pressure. The identification of the issues is now being well presented in regional policy to try to achieve balance.

That means, as Deputy Kenny knows, a changed position for many rural areas since, as the population increases to its current extent, one reaches saturation point in the east. The spread of population masses around the country is inevitable, and that will bring problems. Recently we witnessed the debate in Laois. I understand the county's problem. On one side, it is now the next hub, while on the other side, it has lovely villages. However, there is an inevitability about increased population and economic growth. It is an issue to which we must face up. It will not make matters easy for the next ten or 15 years, including for political life. As one moves to that population, it is a success story, but it brings with it a great many pressures that would not have been here in the 1970s or 1980s.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Does the Taoiseach expect us and the citizens of this country to take seriously and accept as good coin An Agreed Programme for Government? I ask that particularly regarding his integrated transport policy, designed as far as possible to overcome existing delays, bottlenecks and congestion and provide choice through alternative modes of transport. Can we take that seriously, particularly when the Taoiseach puts Deputy Callely in charge of one of the most serious bottlenecks in the country, namely, Dublin traffic? So desperate were we, I must confess, that in recent days when we heard the Deputy promise us metro lines, stations and millions of euro——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I remind the Deputy that the six questions are general in nature, except for No. 2, which relates specifically to the Taoiseach's Department. Detailed questions should be directed at the responsible Minister rather than at the Taoiseach.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Yes, but the Taoiseach is responsible for his ministerial appointments and for the general oversight of the implementation of the programme for Government.

The point that I seek to elucidate is whether we can take seriously An Agreed Programme for Government. I will not labour the point, but I was just saying that so desperate are we in Dublin that when Deputy Callely promised us millions of euro for the metro and so on within a short time, like Fianna Fáil balloons at election time, we almost believed it. Then the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, said that it was guess work. At 9.45 a.m. today, from Dunboyne down to the Navan road and from Ballymun to the toll bridge was rock solid with vehicles that were virtually parked. This issue is very serious, and I would like the Taoiseach to answer why the Government is not taking it seriously, as is obviously the case. My last general point is that——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I point out once again to the Deputy that his questions are detailed and should be addressed to the relevant Minister.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Ceann Comhairle is missing my point, but the Taoiseach certainly knows what I am talking about, so I will let him answer.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will give a general reply, though I am also aware of the specific issues.

Deputy Joe Higgins and everyone else must realise the economic development happening and the scale of infrastructural work. As I said yesterday, we are spending over €10 billion under the five-year plan, an enormous sum. That can be broken down into individual contracts, figures and areas, but we are spending enormous amounts. One cannot change every plan raised by everyone overnight. However, yesterday I stated in the House part of what has been delivered in road, rail, the Luas, the DART, the intercity line, aviation, and transport in general, which is enormous. The contracts are worth over €1.25 billion this year alone.

It is always easy to say there is another contract and ask where it is; everything has to be implemented. The whole idea of a ten-year envelope is that we get a systematic plan rather than the Department, the National Roads Authority or Irish Rail rolling it out separately and that a proper plan is in place for the engineers and planners involved.

Most of the projects the Deputy mentioned are in those plans. He asked me last week about the rail project in his own area, which is in the plan. These projects are part of the overall infrastructural plan and, as I stated yesterday, the roads aspect of that will be presented to the Cabinet committee in March and should be available after Easter. In the area of rail, the people responsible put forward their plan. Those responsible for the DART have published their plan up to the end of the decade. Most of those plans are in the public domain.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Does the Taoiseach guess that everything will be fine?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There will always be pressures.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In his reply the Taoiseach dealt with the importance of social partnership and the responsibility of his own Department for nurturing social partnership. We moved a motion in Private Members' Business last night to have a national uniform waiver scheme in terms of waste charges for people who are unemployed, those with a disability or pensioners but the amendment moved by the Government stated that there are continuing discussions within the social partnership process which are seeking to identify and address any inequitable impact the charging system is having on the disadvantaged. Is the Taoiseach involved in that? It is news to me.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume it is one of the committees under social partnership, of which there are many. I am not involved in it but the Deputy heard the Government's response last night to the proposal for a national waiver scheme. It is not one we support. I presume the purpose of the discussions is to examine some of the difficulties in terms of individuals being hit for these charges. I presume that reference is to pensioners and others.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I refer the Taoiseach to the programme for Government which states: "In so far as it lies within our power, we will strive to create and maintain a secure environment for political progress and bring about, both through the application of law and by persuasion, a complete and lasting cessation of all paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and throughout these islands, including punishment beatings and shootings, and the transformation of movements linked to paramilitary organisations into exclusively democratic organisations and completion of the process of putting arms beyond use". Does the Taoiseach accept that this aspiration in the programme for Government has been defeated? I am not seeking to allocate any blame to the Government for that but half way through the lifetime of the Government, is that not the only realistic if sad conclusion we can arrive at? Does the Taoiseach see any prospect of breaking the impasse in circumstances where paramilitary activity is taking place, including a young boxer being shot through the hands, the savage stabbing to death of Robert McCartney and those type of events, to dominate and control communities on the nationalist side? Does the Taoiseach believe there is any hope of breaking the impasse?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have to acknowledge that, obviously, we have not got a comprehensive settlement that ends these activities. That is the sad reality. In terms of punishment beatings and acts of violence, thankfully they have not reached the level they reached in the past. They are taking place at a time when we thought we would have eliminated them. For now and for the future, we have identified clearly the outstanding issues. There is an enormous understanding of those issues among the people. Whether there is total support for their resolution is a question on which the people of Northern Ireland have to focus their minds. I hope there will be support and that we get a comprehensive agreement that ends paramilitary activity, sectarian violence and other criminality.

That brings us to the linked issue of policing. It is the Government's view, and I believe the view of all parties in this House, that if we do not get a resolution to the policing issue — and we were almost there — we will not end these acts because the policing issue is central to these issues and to nationalist communities. That is the reason many of these activities are happening. In sincere response to Deputy Rabbitte, I believe we have to continue to try to get people to accept the elements of the agreement of last December, which were worked out over a two year period, and to try to build up trust and confidence. It is difficult but it is something we will not give up on.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The programme for Government states: "... will encourage the end of the two-tier health system by ensuring that public patients will have access to timely and quality services in all parts of the system". Does the Taoiseach not accept that cannot be done without a revision of the consultants' contract?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Again, Deputy, as I pointed out to Deputy Joe Higgins, the questions are general in nature. Matters of detail should be pursued separately with the responsible Minister.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, but my question seeks information on progress towards implementation and I am outlining a number of areas——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a detailed question appropriate to the Minister for Health and Children.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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This question is about progress towards the implementation of the commitment in the programme for Government.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, if the Chair were to accept that——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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That is the purpose of my question.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is a principle of collective responsibility——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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There is, of course.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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——and each Minister is responsible to the House. The Taoiseach does not have official responsibility to this House for detailed questions relating to the Department of Health and Children.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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He has responsibility for the programme for Government.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am pointing out the deficiencies in the programme so far in respect of the commitments made. I am giving a few examples and inviting the Taoiseach to reply in the general, if that is his wont. I made the point on the consultants' contract. Also, does the Taoiseach accept that the revision of same was promised in the health strategy to be implemented by the end of 2002, more than two years ago? Does he accept that key commitments under health in the programme for Government require the co-operation of the health consultants and that in the current climate, where there is a clear breakdown in that relationship——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, that is a detailed question appropriate to the Minister for Health and Children.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is a detailed question but I am inviting a general response to help the Taoiseach to focus on what is a myth in the programme for Government and the way it applies to the daily lives of ordinary people. Let us make no mistake about it; health is one of the key areas under same as is the situation in respect of children and child care. What is the Government's strategy to implement the health elements of the programme for Government if consultants continue to bar the way——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, you are moving on to a detailed question. The Chair has ruled on the matter and I ask the Deputy to stay within the——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What is the Taoiseach's view on the methodology employed in carrying out a national survey of child poverty in 2003, also committed to in the programme for Government, which sought to address, under Children and Child Care, the issue of reducing child poverty in line with the national anti-poverty strategy? Perhaps the Taoiseach might be good enough to address both of those issues.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the issue of the health reform programme, the Deputy is aware of the position on that. The Health Service Executive is up and running, and we now have the National Hospitals Office. The third part of the legislation has to go through this House later in the year on the quality issues of health.

The history of the consultants' contract is clear and well-known. Junior hospital doctors, under an EU directive, must have a shorter working week compared to the hours they traditionally worked, which were excessive. We are committed to that. As a result, there will be more consultants in hospitals, a development to which the Government is committed, and the common contract will have to be reformed. The Government is anxious to proceed with negotiations on the common contract but it has not been able to progress the matter as a result of the insurance indemnity issue. It will be impossible to engage the consultants in discussions on the common contract while that issue remains unresolved. Last week, when replying to a question from Deputy Kenny, I outlined the position in respect of insurance indemnity. Industrial action is pending and the Government is seeking to negotiate but there are some things we just cannot do.

We want to negotiate the contract and make progress. It is necessary, in the overall reform of the health area, to make progress. The common contract has not be renegotiated for 25 years and matters in the area of health have moved on to a major extent in the interim. There are now 120,000 full-time and part-time employees in the health service. The position is, therefore, entirely different to that which obtained in the mid to late 1970s when the common contract was negotiated. We want to proceed with the negotiations but we must resolve the insurance indemnity issue in the first instance.

I answered questions on child poverty recently. We have made substantial progress. However, the two recent reports, NESC's household survey and that carried out by the CSO, identified the areas on which we need to target our efforts for the future. The line Ministers will take action in that regard. This is not only a matter for the Department of Social and Family Affairs, it is also a matter for the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children. These Departments must focus on how we can best deal with those areas which the reports continue to show as having——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Taoiseach satisfied with the findings?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to continue, without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have no difficulty with the methodology used. The only argument I would put forward is that it is not possible to compare like with like because it is not a case of being able to do so. As both reports state, the methodology employed is different and cannot be compared with earlier reports. I welcome the fact that they focus on the areas on which we should target resources. While there has been a major reduction from 15% to 5% of children living in extreme poverty, we must concentrate our efforts on those 5% of children.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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When speaking on An Agreed Programme for Government, the Taoiseach repeatedly states that if the Government had previously known what it knows now, it would have done things differently. This is particularly the case when he is obliged to answer questions on matters such as traffic congestion, problems relating to social housing, etc. Is it not the case, however, that when one is preparing such a programme, unless — as happened in Finland — a study into what might happen in the future and how to plan for this is carried out, one is merely failing to prepare and, as they say in football parlance "preparing to fail"? Is that why quite a number of matters dealt with An Agreed Programme for Government are not being implemented? I refer here to establishing a national waste management advisory board, a recycling forum and a marketing development group. We all thought these would be standard and required but they have either fallen off the agenda or the programme is not to be believed.

The agreed programme contains a commitment which states "We will implement our greenhouse gas taxation policies on a phased incremental basis". Is the programme anything more than an elaborate press release? Should we simply adopt a take it or leave it approach to it? Does the Taoiseach intend to revisit a number of the matters to which consideration has clearly not been given in order to see what can be done to take action in respect of them? I have heard that he intends to rewrite the national climate change strategy and perhaps he needs to do so. Would such a development represent a response to the Government's failure in respect of the Kyoto Protocol? Is it intended to redraw the commitment which states "Defence Policy continues to develop in the service of peace" when Ireland joins the European defence agency. We do not have to do the latter and we have not had a debate in the House on it.

Are we to take An Agreed Programme for Government seriously when it comes to obvious differences between Government action and stated policy? Is the programme worth discussing, particularly in light of the fact that it does not seem to hold much weight for the Government? Why should it, therefore, hold much weight for others?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept that analysis. The programme for Government sets down plans for every Department, Minister and agency to follow and endeavour to implement. An audit carried out each year on the huge number of areas and initiatives covered by the programme shows what has been completed. It is obvious that everything has not been completed and some initiatives are either more advanced than others or have already been completed.

The national spatial strategy was professionally — not politically — prepared and those involved analysed what will happen in the future. The relevant unit in the Department, various outside consultants, etc., considered the geographical and population changes and the various trends that might occur during the preparation of the strategy, which sets out how those involved see the country developing. The analysis and qualitative work carried out by the Central Statistics Office has also been taken into account.

As regards the rate of progress, the Deputy will be aware that projects often, for one reason or another, take longer to complete than originally envisaged. That is an inevitable consequence of the planning process. I do not have a difficulty with that process but I am of the view that it takes too long to be completed in respect of matters of this nature.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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As in the case of the metro.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The major issue with the metro is its sheer size and the scale of the resources required. Almost the entire capital programme would be needed.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It would be a fraction of——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should allow the Taoiseach to continue, without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are other places besides Dublin and the resources must be spread around.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach stated that the metro would reach Dublin Airport by 2007.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Dublin Airport is doing better than anyone ever thought it would. Up to 20 million visitors passed through it last year. Only five or six years ago, people stated that this number might only reach 10 million.

A huge amount of work was invested in preparing the national spatial strategy and the guidelines for every region and local authority area. Deputy Sargent is correct that the Kyoto Protocol comes into play today. We must take action in terms of progressing matters in that regard. Issues relating to a range of areas are continually reviewed in the context of the national climate strategy because it is necessary to update our knowledge in respect of them.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach referred earlier to the existence of thermal treatment plants in other countries. Does the not agree that the key issue in terms of the Government's policy relates to the health aspects of these plants and people's concerns in that regard? The EPA is refusing to appoint representatives of the World Health Organisation at its oral hearings.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That question is more appropriate to the line Minister.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach agree that concerns about the health issues involved are genuine, sincere and widely held and that the EPA is not addressing them?

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I do not know if the Taoiseach is aware that the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, which the Government rushed through the House just prior to Christmas, has been deemed to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. This has major implications in terms of how the Government has dealt with the elderly. It is clear that it has been unfair and inefficient in terms of ensuring that the elderly were cared for and provided for and not robbed of their pensions. There is a specific commitment to the elderly in the programme for Government which was not met. I refer here to the fact that 850 nursing home beds were to be provided by way of PPPs.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy knows that this matter is more appropriate to the line Minister.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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In light of the Supreme Court decision, it is vital that the Government be held to account in respect of the care of the elderly.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy cannot ask a detailed question of the Taoiseach on the matter.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is responsible.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I have listened to many specific questions on An Agreed Programme for Government. This is a specific commitment. The first phase, as regards care for the elderly, is for 859 community nursing unit beds, provided for under a public private partnership. Only the first——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair has ruled on this.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Will the Taoiseach make a statement now as regards the situation that arises as a result of Government bungling, ineptitude and the harshness with which it has treated the elderly who needed nursing care in community units, who were robbed when they went looking for this care and who have not been provided for within the Government programme which made specific commitments to meet needs which had not been met?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As regards the first question on the health issue and the thermal treatment plants, of course I acknowledge there is concern in all of these cases. Whenever there is anything new there is concern about these issues. However, the EPA study notes that the World Health Organisation dealt with these issues. They have been reviewed not just in Ireland but in many countries. I understand that people have concerns in this regard, but the World Health Organisation was involved, as stipulated in the report.

On Deputy McManus's question, I have just heard that the case was lost. This will now bring clarity to the whole position. That was the benefit of it being reviewed by the Supreme Court. Now the case has to be dealt with. A 90-page judgment is being read, and that will have to be carefully examined by the Attorney General and the Department of Health and Children. This issue has existed since the mid-1970s. Now we have to deal with it in accordance with the Supreme Court's ruling and the Government will do that.