Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The only way we can restore growth is by making sure we continue with the public finance position outlined by the Minister for Finance in the supplementary budget. During the course of this debate there will be opportunities for Members who support or are in Government or are in Opposition to discuss the real choices. Whatever the choices people may wish to promulgate, they will have to be discussed on the basis that we will continue to ensure our public position improves, as has been outlined to and agreed by those with whom we work in the euro area. Any debate outside those parameters will not be real or honest because the only statement we can make frankly to the people is that if we spend €60 billion and take in €40 billion, we have to change the dynamic. The way of changing the dynamic is through restoring growth. During the course of this evening and tomorrow, we will outline in detail the Government's plans to achieve that end in the various economic and social areas for which Ministers have responsibility. Ultimately, the confidence that can be placed in this Government will be on the basis of our preparedness to take decisions which bring short-term unpopularity but which, when we complete our mandate and growth is restored and jobs returned to the Irish economy, will cause people to look back at 2009 and 2010 and acknowledge that a Government was in place which was prepared to take decisions in the immediate term to make the adjustments which gave our economy and people the prospect of growth and jobs.

See this speech in context