Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I appreciate that, but the issue is central to what is happening in the country. The Taoiseach has said that he is anxious that time and space is given to everybody in the process to talk. The problem is that the budget is due in five weeks' time. What is the Government's objective in this matter? Is its objective to try to conclude an agreement on these matters in advance of the budget or is it engaging in a consultative exercise which will guide or inform it in its decision making when the time comes to make those decisions? The reason I ask is that I am a bit confused as to the Government's disposition in this regard.

The original questions were in respect of the McCarthy report. However, on one hand the Taoiseach has been giving the impression that this is a document that is of some interest to the Government in making its decisions on the budget, while, on the other, we are being told that sectoral discussions are taking place. It is difficult to understand how we could have meaningful sectoral discussions if the issues identified in the McCarthy report relating to particular sectors are not the subject of discussion. What is the game plan or what is the Government's intention or objective? I appreciate the Taoiseach cannot predict the outcome of discussions, but what is the Government's objective? Is the objective to try to reach an agreement or not?

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