Analysis: The tone is ever so slightly defensive writes Mark Hennessy,Political Correspondent
The concept of self-examination is a pretty ludicrous one at the best of times, and the expensively bound production that emerged yesterday from Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats will not buck the trend.
The tone is ever so slightly defensive. Where progress has been made over the last year - a short enough list, frankly - the achievements have been trumpeted. Everything else is put down for work for another day.
And there is yet another sign of arrogance that often permeates this administration, as can be judged by the following sentence: "What we have set out to fulfil is the destiny of the Irish people, living in prosperity on an island at peace with itself." One can only wonder about the author's mind. The sentence was included in the Taoiseach's prepared remarks for the launch, though Mr Ahern had the good sense to shy away from it at the last moment.
Describing the last year as being the most difficult in the international economy for years, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney offered the clear sub-text: "Don't blame us, folks. It's someone else's fault." Just like the Taoiseach, she emphasised that the first year of a five-year term in power has gone by. "The government will meet its responsibilities to the Irish people in this second year of our term and for all our time in office," she declared.
For the Taoiseach, the achievements of the last year are obvious, even though many outside Government Buildings will feel that he and the rest of the Government are looking upon a different reality to the one faced by everyone else.
The social partnership agreement, he said, has been renewed for another term - though at too high a cost in the minds of many concerned with the state of the Exchequer's finances.
Though the public sees delays and overspending on National Development Plan projects, the Government sees the most "ambitious programme of road building and public transport improvement ever".
The Health Strategy is not dead and buried, despite the carping of the Doubting Thomases, the Government says, claiming"significant areas of progress in the implementation of the Strategy in 2002".
However, the Government's claim that "considerable progress has been made in reducing waiting times for public patients in 2002" will be taken with a pinch of salt given its earlier promise to abolish such lists within two years.
The country's relationship with the European Union is more "transparent and more accountable", following the Government's decision to listen "to the concerns of the people".
Health spending is up by 10 per cent. Five thousand extra care staff, have been hired - though he failed to mention the plan to cut public service numbers by 5,000.
On the jobs front, the interim report simply ignored the fact that the number of unemployed has risen since the general election, while the cutbacks made in the Community Employment Schemes were equally air-brushed out of history.
On school buildings, the Programme review insists that 146 large scale construction projects will begin this year: "Twenty six of these are new starts in the current year, the balance are carry forwards from previous years."
For years, politicians have heralded the arrival of the private sector in providing badly-needed State infrastructure. Yesterday's document highlights the lack of progress: "Meetings have taken place with the National Development Finance Agency regarding existing Public Private Partnerships and any future programme of PPPs." In its original programme, the Government promised to bring in legislation to confiscate the assets of those found guilty of corruption, along the lines of the legislation that set up the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Yesterday, the Government simply glossed over the significant difficulties that have been encountered in putting a promise into action: "Consultations are under way with the Office of the Attorney General and the Criminal Assets Bureau."