Local TD Frances Fitzgerald
was appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality on Friday 6th
May following the formation of the new Partnership Government.
"It is a particular honour,
one that I recognise and value highly, for me to be appointed as Tánaiste and
Minister for Justice and Equality. It is a true honour to have been entrusted
with this responsibility and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone
who supported me.
"This partnership Government
is not just new; it is profoundly and radically different. As everybody knows,
it has taken time, commitment, energy and effort to reach this point. It has
taken a willingness to listen, to question and to accept differing viewpoints,
traits that are important and that we need in abundance if we are to meet the
socioeconomic and international challenges that we face in this world.
"The new Partnership
Government will work for all the people to make their lives better and build a
fairer Ireland. Following many weeks of intense negotiations, my colleagues and
I have listened carefully to what people said at the election, and I feel
positive that the programme for government, which has now been agreed upon,
reflects that. This Government will work to create a fairer Ireland with the
support of a strong economy, and will work to address the key issues that have
been raised about housing and homelessness, health, jobs and better public
services.
"The Programme for Government
has clear and measurable targets, including:
ü meeting the target of building
25,000 new homes needed every year by 2020
ü creating 200,000 jobs by 2020,
including 135,000 outside Dublin
ü increasing Garda numbers to 15,000
"This Government wants to
ensure we have thriving communities, and a country that looks after its people
from the time they come into the world to the time they leave. This new
Partnership Government wants to ensure that everyone is given the opportunity
to succeed, nobody is left behind and the best life opportunities are possible
for all our people.
"As Tánaiste and a member of
this Government, I am ready to tackle the many challenges faced by the country
and I am mindful of my duty to put the people first. I want everyone to have
the peace of mind that comes from feeling safe and secure in their lives and
I’m committed to working every day for the people to achieve that goal. Success
for us will be measured by an improved quality of life for our people and by
the opportunities a fair society provides for every single citizen.
"I look forward to continuing
my work in Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and
Brittas and striving to make a real difference and delivering a stable and fair
Ireland in the months and years ahead," she concluded. 
