Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Members of Fine Gael and many Members of this House are delighted with the result of the referendum on the Lisbon treaty and the central role Ireland will continue to play within the European Union. In its campaign, led by Deputy Kenny, Fine Gael put the country first. It is important that the Government does not interpret the result of the vote as an endorsement of its work. If there was one emotion obvious on the campaign trail, it was people's fury at the excesses they had seen, be they in respect of FÁS, ministerial expenses and those of the Ceann Comhairle, waste in government or Departments. A comprehensive plan for governance in respect of these issues is not coming from the Government. I ask the Leader to respond by inviting some Ministers, if not the Taoiseach, to address the core issue of governance and standards.

The new Labour Services (Amendment) Bill purports to reform the board of FÁS. It does so to a degree, but this is not true reform. Fine Gael brought forward a public appointments transparency Bill to ensure greater transparency. Under that Bill, a committee of the Dáil would have had more of a role and there would have been greater scrutiny of those appointed. This is not allowed for in the Government Bill, which I regret. The people are asking how can the Government convince them that it is putting in place mechanisms to show that the culture of excess has changed. Negotiations are taking place this week between the Green Party and Fianna Fáil and many would like to be offered an election at the end of that process. People want a new team with different standards being applied. It is extraordinary how little emphasis there is in the programme discussions on job creation and helping employers. That element seems to be missing. From what we have heard so far, a plan for economic recovery does not appear to be part of the negotiations.