Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

At 11% and rising, Ireland's unemployment rate is now higher than Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. A total equal to more than twice the adult population of the Taoiseach's constituency of Laois-Offaly has become unemployed in 18 months. The EU estimates that Ireland will have a deficit of 11% of GDP this year. France is expected to have a deficit of 5.4%, Spain a deficit of 6.2% and Greece a deficit of 3.7%. Greece has been given four years to sort out its problems and the Taoiseach's Government has been given five. The global competitiveness report which is compiled every year reported that the quality of Ireland's infrastructure dropped nine places between 2008 and 2009 to become 64th in the world. We were the fifth most competitive country in 2000.

I listened to the Taoiseach's comments at the weekend about codding the people. I put it to him that in May 2007 the greatest con job of all was pulled by him as Minister for Finance and his predecessor as Taoiseach when they put out advertisements in the national newspapers to the effect that 97% of the taxpayers of Ireland would be better off under Fianna Fáil. I note from the communications unit the interview given today by the Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, in which he said that in respect of the last budget the two Brians made a bags of it and that it was unfair. I am not a supporter of Deputy McGuinness and I do not know if the Taoiseach heard the interview but that is what he said today. He said the two Brians made a bags of it.

We are aware that the country is not working under Fianna Fáil. Retail shops are closing down, small businesses cannot get credit and 1,000 jobs a day are being lost. Young people are forced to find a place in the world where they might find some work because of the despair and hopelessness they are experiencing here. I challenge the Taoiseach again; will he put this budget to the Irish people in a general election and give somebody a mandate to lead this country out of the mess that he and his people over there have created? Is he prepared to do that or is he not?

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