Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

If Kathleen Ní Houlihan took a trip to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service she would need to be prepared for some tough advice. She would be asked to control her outgoings and told to increase her income. When the MABS officials asked her about the source of her income over the past few years, they would shake their heads and take copious notes because Ireland Inc. has become too dependent on income from boom time taxation. We need to sober up and carefully examine the fiscal and taxation measures that will not only get us through good times but also through the lean years. As Kathleen returns from her trip to MABS, I can well imagine the neighbours watching out for her on the way home to see what actions she will take to get her finances in order. In the same way, EU member states will carefully examine the measures we take to ensure Ireland's finances are put back on the right track.

The way forward is simple. Ireland needs to control its income and expenditure in the same way as a household. It must ensure that a strong signal is sent to economic and political institutions elsewhere that we can get our house in order. That will involve pain, cutbacks and higher taxes but the public is looking for fairness in these measures in order that the less well-off are not penalised unduly and those who have benefitted, in some cases very dramatically, from the tiger years pay their fair share and take their part of the pain following the tough decisions that lie ahead.

The way forward has been laid down in detail. The smart economy document published by the Taoiseach before Christmas shows clearly what needs to be done for future job creation. We also need to be prudent and carefully evaluate spending decisions but we also need to show imagination and creativity. We need to look at where those new jobs will emerge. They will be different from those created previously. The various green initiatives under way within government will deliver many jobs. Organic farming and farming that results in produce being delivered directly from farm to fork will generate greater profit than selling raw produce abroad and these industries need to be developed. Ocean energy, photovoltaics and various other energy sources will create jobs and save people money. Improvements in public transport and long-term projects such as the western rail link, the metro in Dublin and additional Luas lines will help people get to where they want to go without using a car. The digital economy will bring forward thousands of jobs into the 21st century. However, we need to be prepared for these opportunities and we need to implement the smart economy document.

The Fine Gael motion brings a focus to bear on Ireland's financial issues and the Government response will be prudent and careful, as it will address the radical reform required to set Kathleen Ní Houlihan on the right path as she gets her finances in order.

See this speech in context