Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)

——in his ability to speak for four minutes without offering any alternatives or positive suggestions. I regret the Deputy is leaving the House. It is difficult to understand how Deputy Durkan reached the conclusion that the private sector has remained untouched other than by a few job losses. Also, it is difficult to understand his theory that the global downturn has not yet impacted on us here.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. On 7 April, the Government will take the necessary steps in terms of its presentation of a supplementary budget to the Irish people. While many of the measures introduced will be difficult, I believe they will be fair. We are all aware of the need for fairness. It is always difficult to get the balance right. The Government is working hard to ensure those who can afford the most will pay the most and that the most vulnerable in society are protected as far as possible.

Clearly, Ireland is facing unprecedented economic challenges on a scale never before experienced. It is critical people work together and in that regard I welcome the new engagement with the social partners. It is a positive move which indicates a new realisation by a large sector of stakeholders in society that the situation is as bad as indicated. The country's finances have been worsening rapidly since October of last year. I believe the budget will provide the Government with an opportunity to pre-empt a worsening of our finances.

The budget will, I hope, have a number of positive effects, the most vital of which is that additional and much needed revenue will be raised for the Exchequer, thus narrowing the gap in our public finances. Our economy has worsened far more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated. Total tax revenue at the end of 2008 was €40 billion, some €6 billion less than that taken in the previous year. The budget will allow the Government to address the gaps in revenue as aggressively as possible by changing the amounts people contribute.

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