Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with the Minister, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, and Deputy Cyprian Brady. I ask the Acting Chairman to interrupt me at ten minutes to allow time for the others.

The primary rationale behind this budget was to demonstrate both domestically and to international markets that Ireland has the capacity to deal from within with its own budgetary difficulties and challenges and to show that we have the resolve and determination to put in place a programme of recovery that is sustainable and that will earn the confidence of those who continue to invest in Ireland and intend to invest in the future. The situation is particularly serious and we need to stop indulging in unnecessary political scaremongering.

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