Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I requested an opportunity for the House to discuss our economic circumstances next week. Following last night's meeting, there was clarity on objectives and targets, as well as agreement from the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party on those targets and dates. The main Opposition parties have given a strong signal of clarity that they agree with the Government targets. It is now time to get real.

I understand that there is a Cabinet meeting on Monday that may well run into Tuesday. I expect that the Government will be serious about this economic debate and that we will talk about the real issues that now face our country and our people, and about the fact that our sovereign independence is at risk. The Government will have to see to it that money is borrowed in January, and that cannot happen in the current circumstances. It requires serious analysis and serious decisions to be made here.

I asked our own Whip to agree with the Government that the decks be cleared of all business on Wednesday, except Leaders' Questions, and that the debate on Wednesday and Thursday be strictly related to the economy. I hope that the Government will come into that debate and outline for us its view of the overall adjustment that must be made over the next number of years, give an assessment of its growth projections, as well as the fiscal adjustment it expects to make in 2011 in the budget on 7 December.

This country is now in a position it has never been in before. I am not going to say-----

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