Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

However, the idea that my job is to enable others to write the budget is not the position. What we want to see is people putting out what they believe is the way forward. They should put their proposals on the table, just as we will on 7 April. They can either do so beforehand or afterwards. That is the position and any suggestion to the contrary that we are trying to engage in any other arrangement is not true. The Government is trying to deal with a situation which is very significant for the country, which must and will be dealt with. It is our intention to be as fair as possible, recognising that those who take the burden are those who are best able to bear it. However, in saying that, we recognise that nobody will be immune from the burden of adjustment that has to be taken. Everyone will have to share the burden according to his or her ability to carry it. Given that the economy will contract by at least 6.5% this year, in addition to other measures which we have to take in order to achieve budgetary balance to begin the process and which will have a further and adverse impact, we must take all those considerations into account and make careful decisions and this is what the Government intends to do in respect of the targets being outlined.

As regards the social partners, we will outline to them, as we have outlined within the framework, how we can work to help people who need reskilling and those who lose their jobs. A range of areas is outlined in that framework, which we can discuss. However, at the end of the day, the responsibility for bringing forward the budget lies with the Government of the day and that has always been the position. Were Deputy Gilmore in my position, it would be the same for him and I would stand up in the House and give my views as to where I think it should go. Deputy Gilmore said that in some way we are reticent in our duties and he claimed it was our fourth attempt to address the situation. We are making whatever decisions are necessary in the context of a deteriorating situation which is not particular to this country but is hitting every country in the developed world in a way which is unprecedented in our time. Therefore, the suggestion that there is any Minister for Finance or any government that brought forward a budget last September or October who has not had to review and revise the situation is foolish; what country is in a position to do that, given the magnitude of the crisis that is facing us and enveloping the world at the moment? The answer is none. The strongest economies in the world are facing bigger challenges than they did since the Second World War which was nearly 70 years ago. That is the situation. The Deputy can make his rhetorical flourishes and make his little debating points if he wishes but the fact remains and I am entitled to state it as fact that every economy the Government has introduced to bring the public finances under control, to ensure our expenditure came in on line, has been opposed by Deputy Gilmore and his party on every occasion. The people are entitled to know that fact as well.

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