Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It seems as if the Government has abdicated its responsibility to sort out the economic mess into which it has led us. It is not possible to get permanent savings by having a further 12 days' holidays. It is not possible to give the same level of service with 5% less man-hours.

The detail available to Opposition parties, such as it is, leads me to believe that what the Taoiseach is talking about is grossly unfair. Where is the fairness in a situation where a person on the minimum wage will have the same proportion of cut as somebody on €100,000, and give up 5% of his or her income? How is it fair that ordinary families with children at school will suffer as a consequence of this? How is it fair that the unemployed will have less chance of getting a job when the capital budget is cut? How is it fair that children who are vulnerable will be at risk now because of less social work hours being worked by social workers and those in the social services? There is no sense of fairness in what the Taoiseach is talking about and it seems as if the commitment given by himself and the Minister for Finance has been nothing but words again. Even ten days ago the newspapers reported that the Taoiseach was not for turning on pay.

How many gardaí will be taken off the beat as a consequence of this? How many operations will be cancelled? How many classes will be left without teachers? How many children will be put at risk because of fewer social workers working 5% less hours? Where is the sense of fairness in what the Taoiseach is talking about?

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