Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I am perfectly entitled to ask whether a document that Members have seen but which has not been presented to the Dáil, which indicates tax increases and does not rule them out in 2009, constitutes an indication there will or will not be additional tax increases in 2009. That is a legitimate question.

Further, in what format will Members have a debate about these decisions? I note the social partners have not yet engaged on any of the decisions that are to be taken. In what format will the Oireachtas have a debate about such decisions? Will Members be presented with a list of choices, with cost implications and impacts on various people and parts of our community, from which they will make choices? Will there be analysis or content behind a list of cuts? Members have been treated like imbeciles in the past by the Government, which simply has listed a row of numbers without analysis. This practice has got the Government into huge problems. Will Members, for the first time, be provided next week with some analysis of what underpins the tax and expenditure changes?

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