FG leader calls on Ahern to give plan for public finances

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, challenged the Taoiseach to say how he planned to bring the public finances back under control.

"This must be the first priority of the new Government. Otherwise, the many promises and commitments made in the new Programme for Government will be meaningless."

Responding to Mr Ahern's announcement of his new Cabinet, Mr Kenny said the programme was full of vague aspirations which were clearly designed to make it difficult to measure the performance of Ministers. "Fine Gael will provide vigorous, effective and constructive opposition to this Government. We will reclaim the centre ground in Irish politics. Our policy positions will be driven by our core beliefs. Fine Gael's political philosophy is based on values rather than on opportunism."

The Labour leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn, said the alternative to the Government was the Left. "Social democratic, socialist or environmentalist, call it what you will. It believes in the values of community and solidarity and it puts them first."

Labour's task, he said, would be to mobilise support for the alternative view of Ireland's future and, equally importantly, to organise behind it, too.

"We do not take that support for granted. We know that the respect of the Irish people, and of other deputies in this House, must always be earned. We approach that task with humility, but determination. Those are virtues which I commend to this Government in the onerous duties it takes on today."

Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said his party had called for a Department of Transport and it was good to see it being set up.

Some Departments, he added, were still business as usual. "Mr Micheál Martin could probably, in his own definition, become Minister for Sickness rather than Minister for Health."

Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said to vote for the Cabinet was to vote for the Programme for Government agreed by Fianna Fáil and the PDs.

The House approved the ministerial nominations by 91 votes to 65.