Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Will the Taoiseach immediately release all documents and advices relating to the decision to take €1.8 billion from pension funds? That is the question I asked. He can argue that the €1.8 billion pension levy will have no impact if he wants. If this was a normal budget, the advices and supporting documentation would already be published online. If the Taoiseach wants us to believe this is more than a PR initiative, I do not see why he should not let people see now the full impact of this initiative. We do not have to wait for the committees to be set up in a couple of weeks' time.

The Taoiseach has given three speeches so far about the fact that export-oriented industry will be the driver of growth and job creation, which we on this side agree with, yet there is not even one measure in the proposal to aid such companies. Equally, none of the proposals leaked by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, were in the package announced yesterday. Can the Taoiseach explain why yesterday's €2 billion package contained no significant allocation for any measure under the control of the Department responsible for jobs?

See this speech in context