Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the fact that the Government has invited the ICTU to talks. I hope this invitation will be accepted and I hope the talks will result in the calling off of next week's day of action. It is critical at this time in our nation's development that public services be enabled to continue and that the reputation of our country be kept at a high level. From that perspective, I hope the day of action is called off and meaningful discussions can take place.

In that context, the Taoiseach has asked on a number of occasions for constructive suggestions from Opposition parties. Presumably, when the talks take place with the ICTU in the context of social partnership, they will be meaningful discussions and the Taoiseach will impart information, which he is not prepared to give to Oireachtas Members, who are the elected representatives of all the people and all sectors in this country. On 13 March, the Fine Gael Party through its finance spokesperson, Deputy Bruton, wrote to the Minister for Finance looking for information relevant to the budget to be introduced on 7 April. That letter has not even been acknowledged yet, never mind providing the information sought therein.

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