Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

Overall, the budget is incoherent, soft on the rich and hard on the poor.

The times ahead will be hard. The Government has sought to tie the hands of its successors with a series of very specific commitments over the next four years. If the Fine Gael Party is part of the incoming Government, we will stick to the targets set down but will renegotiate the specific measures envisaged for the next three budgets. I have been assured by Commissioner Rehn and Mr. Chopra of the IMF that they will co-operate with us in doing so.

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