Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

Aside from the political instability a general election would cause, it is perhaps worth recalling what might be in store for the Irish people should Fine Gael and Labour form a coalition Government. The Irish people deserve to know how they would reconcile their differences.

Fine Gael calls for more spending cuts and a bigger reduction in the deficit than Labour. On the banks, they are fundamentally opposed, with Fine Gael rejecting Labour's call for nationalisation. Fine Gael's budget submission calls for a €500 million cut in non-contracted discretionary spending but it does not set out any specifics on that very issue. The party's finance spokesman calls for cuts in local roads funding, and when it happens it is condemned by its own transport spokesman.

Deputy Kenny tries to win headlines by saying we cannot tax our way out of recession, but apparently we can PRSI our way out of recession. His remarks are a flip-flop because his call for tax increases on the highest incomes-----

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