Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It would be better for the Deputy to address the details of his latter questions to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The discussions with the social partners are about meeting with them on the basis of the updated NESC report, which confirms that an integrated approach is needed to resolve the problems that we face. Engaging with the social partners is not just a matter for the Government, but for everybody, because nobody can absent himself or herself from the responsibilities we now face.

The breakdown of the manner in which the adjustment will be made across the various areas of expenditure is the subject of budgetary discussion at the moment. We are going through the various Departments as we prepare for the December budget. Like the leader of the Labour Party, we believe public sector pay and pensions need to be controlled. In light of the scale of the adjustment that is necessary, reductions in those areas have to be part of the equation. The manner in which that is achieved can be the subject of further discussions. There is no doubt that the scale of adjustment is such that this issue cannot be avoided.

The Deputy's third point related to the decisions and proposals that have been made. He is aware that we have proposed a stabilisation fund. Hundreds of firms have made applications under the subsidy scheme. We changed the criteria for the percentage of a company's turnover that needs to relate to the export sector in line with a recommendation that had been made by Enterprise Ireland on that particular point.

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