I welcome the opportunity to speak during this pre-budget debate. This is an opportune time for Deputies from all parties on the Government and Opposition sides of the House to make a major statement about how Ireland will tackle the difficulties it is encountering during this period of global economic unrest. It is fair to say that the work done by the Taoiseach in the United States last week was excellent. Everybody in the State was proud of the ease with which the Taoiseach was accepted when he met the US President, Mr. Obama, in the White House.

The Government has been reasonably steadfast in setting out its plans for dealing with the ongoing crisis in the economy. It took an approach to the banking crisis from day one. In fairness, it took the lead when it provided a guarantee to this country's financial institutions. The action taken at that stage has stood the test of time. Nobody can criticise the stance taken by the Taoiseach or by the Minister for Finance when they provided a guarantee of that nature. As the global financial situation continues to change on a daily basis, it is clear that no single solution will assist every economy. Having said that, we need to examine all the problems we face and deal with them. Rather than reacting to every little issue that comes along, it is only proper that an appropriate statement is made at an opportune time. That time is now, as we approach next month's budget. The Government has had a constant plan from the outset. Its efforts to attack the gap in the public finances are ongoing. While the recent pension levy was difficult to implement, I am glad the Government took a strong stance. Every Deputy on this side had to take the rap when it was being introduced. A great deal of false information was disseminated by the media, fuelled by certain unions that failed to give proper or up-to-date information to their members. If we are to overcome this financial crisis, the unions need to act in a much more co-operative manner. They did not put their shoulder to the wheel when the pension levy was being introduced.

The Government's plan also involves sorting out the banks, which is no easy task. We are aware of some of the discrepancies that have developed in recent months. Time will show that the Government has the right plan of attack in this regard. It has done everything possible to create and save jobs. In the current climate, Ireland is no different from any other economy. We are very open to foreign direct investment. We are doing particularly well, given the climate we are in. Perhaps that is a bold statement, but that is how I feel about it. It is not an easy time to be Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. When one considers the financial constraints on other countries, it is clear it is not easy to maintain jobs in the Irish economy. Great work has been done to create and save jobs. We should not forget that jobs are being created and more jobs are in the pipeline. It should not be all doom and gloom day in, day out. Much work is being done behind the scenes to protect and support the unemployed. The Government is restoring Ireland's international reputation by strengthening domestic governance arrangements.

If there is a message I would like to send to the Opposition, it is that it is time for us to stand together in advance of the forthcoming budget. If the economy is to get where it needs to be, we will all have to put our shoulders behind the wheel. I do not believe that has been happening in recent times. I have not seen any signs of it. Some of the proposals made by the Opposition in this week's Private Members' motion are futile and unimaginative. The best it has come up with is an attack on the number of Ministers of State and the extent of the supports available to Ministers and Ministers of State. To choose such easy targets is gombeen politics, as far as I am concerned. People who have been elected to this House should be far more constructive, in the interests of the good of the people. We all know this is the worst crisis to hit this country for many decades. Party politics should be left outside for a few weeks, if possible, for the good of the country. Deputies should start making proper proposals to help those who elect them. The recent petty calls for a general election were crazy. Before Christmas, some members of the Opposition did not want an election. They were probably afraid of it. They might have thought they would be better off if the election were delayed by a year. However, this week they have called for a snap general election. It is time for Members of this House to think about what we say rather than jumping to a conclusion this week and another conclusion next week.

The fundamentals of the economy are still strong. That is probably what is saving us. We need to recognise that many economies of a similar size are in a much worse position than the Irish economy. Stimulus packages, such as the national development plan, are helping to keep jobs in the economy. I do not ignore the fact that many jobs are being lost every week, which is a pattern that will continue for some time. It is worth recognising that matters would be much worse if we did not have the forms of economic stimulus that are currently available, such as the national development plan. All Deputies are aware that significant moneys have been spent on building and upgrading roads across the country. Substantial funds have been pumped into our motorways and our regional and county roads in recent years. That is continuing to more or less the same degree. The development of new school buildings and extensions in the past ten years has been phenomenal. Schools have benefitted from many additional resource assistants. Work is ongoing to extend hospitals across the country. The health service is being reformed. The consultant contract that has been introduced, which was controversial in some ranks when it was agreed by the Minister and the consultants, will go a long way towards reforming our health service. I look forward to the completion of the review of outpatient services. It is important, for once and for all, that consultants will be able to deal with outpatients as they come along. It is farcical that doctors who are not consultants are currently dealing with outpatients. That is largely the reason there are long queues at present.

Contract thresholds is the last issue I want to raise. I raised this matter today with the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and Professor Drumm, and it applies right across the board in Departments. In any Government tender process there is a European Union stipulation whereby when a contractor prices for a job, his or her previous year's turnover must be two or three times the cost of the job. Gone is the day when a bond was good enough to secure a contract. That leaves us with the situation where only large companies can tender for these jobs, with the result that all small local contractors are ruled out. I refer to the boys who over the years did jobs such as school and hospital extensions. Such jobs are not rocket science or very technical. I have an engineering background and I know what I am talking about. It is time we reviewed that tender threshold.

I have every confidence in the Minister, and in the Government and the Taoiseach, to make the right decisions next week.

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