Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

It is welcome news that the talks are back and hopefully we will not have the one-day strike next Monday. Apart from the chaos and inconvenience it would have caused, it would have sent out a very bad message from this country. It is one piece of good news today. I hope the strike can be averted because in this dire situation we do not need it. Everybody needs to pull together for the good of this country, which has a very bright future. I am very confident. We have, and will continue to have, a strong and educated workforce, which has always been our strength. In latter years matters have slipped considerably and how we move forward from this point is very important for all of us.

The budget, to be announced in less than two weeks' time, has been described as a mini budget, an emergency budget, the 2009 budget and the 2008 budget. I agree with what Deputy Gilmore said this morning. It is our fourth attempt to address the deteriorating economic situation. This morning the Minister of State, Deputy Curran mentioned that Deputy Kenny had sought targets. I was here this morning and Deputy Kenny asked the Taoiseach what figures he was aiming at in the budget. The Taoiseach should know. Is it the deficit to be 9.5%, 10% or 11%?

The parameters within which the Government will frame the budget must be set out at this stage. I accept the Taoiseach's statement that Governments set budgets and they will do it here on 7 April, but the Opposition has been asked to contribute and engage in the debate and all parties are very willing to do that. However we need to know exactly what we are dealing with. We need to know the figures and the parameters within which the Minister for Finance will set out his budget. That is the point that was made this morning. Deputy Bruton wrote to the Minister 11 or 12 days ago asking the projected tax returns and GDP, and has not even received an acknowledgement. The Opposition has not received those figures, yet we are expected to come up with innovative ideas that will help the Minister.

We are in a very difficult emergency situation and the Government needs to engage with the Opposition. Many people on both sides of the Houses have something to contribute. Many people on this side of the House who have been a long time in politics and feel very passionately about their country have very positive contributions to make and I would have thought it would be in the Minister's interest to share the information he has to facilitate the Opposition. That debate has been ongoing this morning and yesterday in this House.

The Minister mentioned banks. Until we get the banks back on track, nothing will be right. We need a structure with good and bad banks. The Minister is correct that not all assets are toxic and will be written off. Some have value, for example lands with planning permission. With our projected population growth the time will come again when those assets are of a value. We need to separate the good and bad banks. Many proposals have this theme of separating good and bad assets to let the banks get on with the business of providing mortgages and lending to and supporting small businesses, which are suffering badly. It makes sense to support and protect existing jobs rather than creating new jobs. The Minister made the same point. Perhaps we should sing from the same hymn sheet in many cases.

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