Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I am proud in that respect to belong to what I conceive as the social democratic tradition. I accept there are other traditions.

It is perfectly understandable that the Opposition wishes to steer clear of supporting unpopular decisions and to keep its powder dry and I do not criticise it for this. The Government, however, has the responsibility, if necessary on its own, to do what is necessary. We have to strive for equity but it is impossible to get complete consensus on what equity is in given situations. One of the measures I welcome is the reduction in professional fees because those had risen to quite exorbitant levels. One of the alternatives put forward regularly by the party opposite, Fine Gael, is that increments should have been frozen. It should be pointed out that although senior levels of the public service do not enjoy increments they are particularly important to low paid public servants. When we hear arguments about equity we should bear that in mind.

With regard to the demand for a plan for the next five years, the scale of the problem has been outlined. In the coming year, both the Commission on Taxation and what is popularly known as an bord snip, will be preparing for the budget next year which will have to reduce the deficit by another €4 billion, and €1 billion is already provided for in the decisions taken.

In the very fast-moving situation, to demand, as has been demanded, that there be a complete plan in detail on the next five years is utterly unrealistic. It is necessary to proceed empirically, vis-À-vis a fast-moving situation.

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