The Government will make all the "hard decisions and the easy decisions" necessary, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, insisted as he faced the Opposition on the first day back after the local elections.
Questioned about the approach to privatisation in the wake of the results, and the Tánaiste's comments about the "tough decisions" that needed to be taken, Mr Ahern said that "the Government has no particular plans on privatisation in the short-term".
Pressed by Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins, about regulatory reform being a codename for "whole sale privatisation", the Taoiseach said: "We take these decisions on a case by case basis and when it is strategically the right thing to do." Ms Harney on Monday called for faster reform and said the Cabinet should "reshuffle its approach" to some "tough decisions, but nonetheless important ones".
Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, referring to Ms Harney's remarks, asked if the Taoiseach agreed that the "Government ought to proceed to take those hard decisions or do you take a different view". Mr Ahern pointed out that it "has been and will be engaged in reforms in many areas".
Mr Higgins said "in the past 24 hours we have heard Ministers who normally assume quite bullish demeanours, metamorphose into simpering pussycats, full of social concern and empathy".
