Michael Noonan accused the coalition of slowing down work on elements of the plan because of the dramatic deterioration in public finances. He told representatives of the construction industry that Fine Gael in government would work with them to implement the plan as speedily as possible.
This was necessary he said, not just because of urgent infrastructural needs but because the construction sector, which was the engine of the economy, needed certainty in planning for the next four years.
The Fine Gael leader was speaking at the annual dinner of the Master Builders and Contractors Association in Dublin.
