Speaking at FG’s ardfheis at Citywest over the weekend party leader Enda Kenny had the following to say:
“I want to speak to you about my optimism for our people, about my confidence in the advantages we have and about my belief that with courage, fairness and decisiveness, we can point the way ahead to a new future, a fairer Ireland and a truly just society….I believe that Ireland can recover fully from this recession inside five years.’
‘These are our targets:
1. Create 100,000 new jobs by the end of 2013
2. Return the public finances to stability by 2012 – without increasing the standard and current top rates of income tax
3. Deliver a radical plan for renewable energy – pumped storage, wind, wave and biomass – that will meet a quarter of our energy needs by 2015, and make us net exporters of energy within 10 years.
4. Transform our education system so that 9 out of 10 children complete secondary school by 2013 and two thirds go onto third level.
5. Restore Ireland to the top five most competitive countries in the world within three years.
6. To continue to support the Lisbon Treaty.'
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, speaking at his own party’s conference (also in Citywest) on 1 March spelled out his take on the Ireland of the near future:
“I believe, and my government believes, that Ireland can recover fully from this recession inside of five years. We have six targets.
1. Create 100,000 new jobs by the end of 2013
2. Return the public finances to stability by 2012
3. Deliver a radical plan for renewable energy.
4. More of the same successful formula for our education system.
5. Restore Ireland to the top 5 most competitive countries in the world within three years.
6. To continue to support the Lisbon Treaty."
