Written answers

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Department of An Taoiseach

Programme for Government

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 88: To ask the Taoiseach if in view of his statement to Dáil Éireann that he has set specific targets for each Minister and Minister of State to deliver during the Government's first 100 days in office, if he will provide details of these specific targets. [9516/11]

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 89: To ask the Taoiseach the specific proposals in the programme for Government for which he is responsible; the target dates which he has agreed in relation to the delivery of these proposals; and if he will publish an implementation schedule. [9590/11]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

As I have previously indicated to the House, the Programme for Government was adopted by the Government at its first meeting as the framework for its work over coming years. It sets out the policies and initiatives to be progressed over the term of the Government to tackle the many and varied challenges facing the country.

My Department will be supporting the implementation of the Programme as a whole and it will do this with a more explicit focus on its role as a Cabinet Office.

The procedures to reflect the new focus are being developed and will be announced shortly. However, it is not my intention that the Department will exercise executive functions with regard to the Programme for Government generally.

My Department will have specific responsibility in supporting the Chief Whip in advancing the Programme's proposals for Dáil reform and setting in train the necessary legislation for a referendum to abolish the Seanad.

As regards the Governments first 100 days, the Programme for Government specifies that the Government will produce a Jobs Initiative within the first 100 days. Work is well advanced on this initiative with policy plans being developed by multiple Departments and Ministers. Full details will be announced shortly.

It should be noted that the Government has already made substantial progress in meeting its commitments under the Programme for Government. For example:

the quarterly review mission under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland has been successfully concluded. The mission assessed the Programme to be on track and that the targets in the Programme have been met, and agreed to changes to reflect provisions in the Programme for Government.

following completion of the solvency stress tests, decisions on the recapitalisation of financial institutions have been made and a comprehensive strategy to reorganise and reform the domestic Irish banks has been adopted.

an integrated decision-making structure for dealing with the financial crisis, in the shape of the Government Economic Management Committee, has been established.

the Nyberg Report has been published and the Government has committed to holding a referendum before the end of the year to strengthen the powers of Dáil Committees to inquire into crucial issues of public concern, such as the banking crisis.

Ministerial salaries have been reduced, as has the cost of Ministerial transport.

legislation is being prepared on political donations and to enable the number of TDs to be reduced.

the number of Dáil sitting days has been increased through sitting during St Patrick's week and shortening the Easter and summer breaks.

the process of initiating a Comprehensive Spending Review has been initiated; and

the Top-Level Appointments Committee is being revised so that its chairperson and the majority of its members are drawn from outside the public sector.

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