Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The purpose of the motion being tabled tomorrow is to ensure there is full certainty regarding the views of this House, as expressed last week by a majority in its support for the first instalment of this four-year recovery plan through the passing of the budget. The purpose is to demonstrate that there is no uncertainty about the fact that this House, representative of the Irish people, is anxious to ensure that we bring the funding certainty to this State over the next three years that this programme will provide.

The request from Sinn Féin Members that we not do so suggests that they have some funding mechanism in mind. If they could let us know what that is, we would be glad to hear from them. However, it would surprise me if the funding mechanism was such that it would have that amount of money available. Let us wait and see.

The real issue is that for this country to rule itself for the next three years, we need to have funding available to deal with the deficits we are reducing over time in a manner that seeks to protect to the greatest extent possible the social and economic gains of the past. To do that there has to be certainty and stability, and that is what this programme provides for us. Those prospects are available. The only alternative mechanism I am aware of for the provisions of funds for the sovereign would be from the markets, which we are not in at present. If we were to seek to obtain money from those markets, it would be at far higher rates than what is available under the agreements for discussion and decision tomorrow.

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