Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Correct me if I am wrong, but the position as I understand it is that the object or target that the Taoiseach is trying to achieve in the second budget is to find between €4 billion and €4.5 billion. I understand from what he has said that his intention is to do so for 2009. What assessment has been made by the Government or by his advisers? Will he make available to us information as to the impact such a hit on the public finances will have on the wider economy? It is rather a big hit if one takes between €4 billion and €4.5 billion out of the finances for the remainder of 2009. Several commentators speculated as to what this would do to jobs and businesses and in respect of the wider impact on the economy. It would be very helpful if we could have available to us the advice that the Taoiseach has available to him regarding the economic implications of such a move.

In his reply the Taoiseach stated that he wished to put this in a multi-annual context and I understand why he wishes to do so. This is why I have asked him to let us have the Government's projections for revenue and expenditure between now and 2013. I refer to 2013 because that is the date given. I am aware he is smiling, but the Taoiseach provided a document.

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