Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister answer my questions? Does he rule out tax increases next year, as he said only a couple of days ago on the radio? Does he rule out cuts in capital expenditure? I share Deputy Burton's dismay at the Minister's saying the Opposition is not facing up to reality. We said the pay agreement into which he entered was unaffordable. That is harsh medicine. That is telling people we cannot afford to pay what the Minister said he would. I am not afraid to face up to hard decisions but I am not willing to see my grandparents and other people's grandparents being told they cannot have medical cards if their weekly income is over €201. That was the harsh medicine the Minister initially decided to dish out. It targeted the most vulnerable. Can the Minister convince me that making grandparents sacrifice their health entitlements was the route to solving our problems? He knows as well as I that this was not part of the problem. The problem is we need to reform how we spend our money. The sooner the Minister faces up to this the better.

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