Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Fine Gael four year plan has some credibility, but I feel that the Fine Gael leader probably did not mean what he said this morning when he said there would be no income tax increases under the Fine Gael Party in 2011. That is not credible and it undermines the centre piece of the plan Fine Gael published last week. The nit-picking that is going on suggests to people that there are alternatives. If one signs up to a saving of €6 billion, that must involve pain and must impact on people, unfortunately. I acknowledge this is difficult and tough for people at all levels.

There should be political reform. I agree with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on the issue of corporate donations. The legislation on that will be progressed by Government and should be in place before the calling of the election, because that is important in terms of the conduct of the election.

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