Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

criticises the Government for reversing its position on a number of election pledges and for failing to implement a significant number of commitments contained in the Programme for Government;

calls on the Government to:

immediately implement measures to help those struggling with mortgage arrears as promised in the Programme for Government;

follow through on election and Programme for Government promises on job creation, reducing the numbers unemployed and helping small businesses access to credit;

have a specific action plan to tackle youth unemployment;

tackle upward only rent reviews as committed to in the Programme for Government;

ensure that child benefit, state pensions, and other social welfare rates are protected from further cuts;

reverse its decision to increase third level fees each year over the next four years;

protect frontline services in education in particular cuts to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable students;

protect essential services in our health system where waiting lists are already increasing;

immediately set a date for the Children's Referendum as promised;

reverse its decision on the closure of the army barracks in Cavan, Clonmel, Mullingar and Castlebar; and

implement a complete ban on corporate donations as promised in the Programme for Government.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, back to the Chamber. He is spending more time here than when he was a Senator.

The Taoiseach stated that he would produce a report card on his Ministers and the Government after one year in office. On foot of the fact that he decided not to do so and given that all Ministers were on message to the effect that a solid start had been made, it is appropriate on the Government's anniversary that we table a Private Members' motion on the Government's performance. As Fianna Fáil well knows and accepts from being in government from 2007 to 2011, the years of the economic crisis, it is a difficult time for the Government. We have tried to support it when doing so was right, but it is incumbent upon us as a responsible Opposition party to highlight areas in which the Government is not performing.

In the run up to the general election, several cast iron promises were made by the current Government. I will start with the promise on the continuing mortgage crisis. The situation has not improved since the Government entered into office. Rather, it has worsened. Since the Keane report was given to the Government last September, there has been no action in real terms with the exception of the welcome increase in mortgage interest relief for people who bought houses between 2004 and 2008. The Government needs to understand this is a crisis. I ask anyone who does not believe that to read a well-researched report by Charlie Weston in yesterday's Irish Independent on what is happening in our courts every day of the week. I do not believe the Government can wait for the personal insolvency Bill because, while we accept aspects of it will make a difference, it will not deal with the thousands of people who wake up every morning wondering if they will keep a roof over their heads. That is an area in which the Government has failed thus far.

During the week prior to the election people who should have known better promised that they would not pay another cent into our banks. Why were members of what is usually regarded as a responsible party, Fine Gael, allowed to make these promises? They knew that the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government implemented the correct measures in saving our banks, despite their harsh criticism of the bank guarantee and recapitalisation. I remind my Labour Party colleagues that prior to Christmas we insisted on a vote on the renewal of the bank guarantee. I was glad that Labour Party Members had the opportunity to walk through the lobby for that vote because it was the only thing that could be done at the time.

Where do we go from here? A solemn promise was made to students that third level fees would not be increased. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, signed a pledge two days before the general election. I know the Minister is not a fool but the cynical decision to sign a pledge on third level fees in front of Trinity College had an understandable impact on how our students voted. That promise was subsequently reversed when fees were further increased.

Government Members have been beating their chests about rural and minority faith schools. Our smaller schools are under threat from this Government. Some of the most reasonable people I have met during my time in politics come from the Church of Ireland. For the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin to express the belief that his community is threatened by this Government is a sad indictment of how it is treating minorities in this country. Some 65% of Church of Ireland and other minority faith schools, including the only Jewish school in the State, will be affected by these cuts. How does this reflect the promises made by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, when he came into government?

The school buildings programme, which was announced with much fanfare two weeks ago, will invest €1.5 billion over five years. Anyone reading that headline would think this is great news because every new school is welcome. However, it was not acknowledged that the original plan would have invested €1.9 billion over four years. Effectively, the programme has been cut by €400 million, or €600 million if one takes account of the fact that it is over a longer period of time. I will not dwell on the details of the list but I am sure a number of my colleagues will be able to identify schools that have been announced for the fourth or fifth time. Other Governments were also good at doing that on occasion but I found it interesting that the list of schools with construction workers supposedly on-site included a school in my own area, Loretto in Balbriggan. The only people on site at that school are students and teachers. That project was announced in 2009 and the school building has already been built and opened.

The Government promised a new breed of politics involving openness and transparency. It was going to cap salaries. What has it done in regard to the advisers that every Minister employs?