TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen said implementing the Programme for Government would depend on the resources available.
“These matters must be considered in the context of the full tenure of the Government. Which ones are to be implemented, and how, will be a matter for budgetary decision from year to year.”
Mr Cowen said he would publish a progress report on the programme’s implementation by the end of the summer.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said he understood that the programme was based on an economic growth rate of 4.5 per cent over the Government’s lifetime. This would not be achieved.
There was a commitment to reduce the top rate of tax by 1 per cent, the lower rate by 2 per cent, and to cut employee PRSI contributions by 2 per cent.
There was also a commitment in the programme to cut the VAT rates on certain environmental goods and services from 21 per cent to 13.5 per cent, he added.
Mr Cowen said these were budgetary matters.
“During the election campaign I set out my priorities with regard to those tax commitments, and these are on the record and available for public consumption.”
Pressed by Mr Gilmore to say if the commitments would be met, the Taoiseach said it was a question of the availability of resources.
“We have to do the right thing with the resources available to us. I made the position clear during the election campaign, not subsequently.”
When Mr Gilmore accused the Taoiseach of “waffling’’, Mr Cowen insisted he was answering the question.
“The deputy seeks to suggest the commitments were absolute, or made without reference to the public finances, which is not the position,” Mr Cowen added.
“When the commitments were made, they were set out very clearly on that basis.”
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he was not sure if the Taoiseach was aware of what was happening on the streets, “with examples of public drunkenness, violence and the use of drugs and knives, while gardaí are unable, owing to inadequate resources, to do the business for which they are properly trained”.
He added that the Programme for Government contained a commitment to create anti-social behaviour action teams in local authority areas.
Mr Cowen said he was not aware what, if any, teams were in place.
He suggested that a question could be tabled to the Minister for Justice.
