Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It would be very easy to do a budget eight or ten years ago when the question was how much money was wanted and how much could be spent before the end of the year. It is a hell of a different prospect when we have to make choices to get the country back on track and no one is going to do it but ourselves. The question of the European issue is one we will be discussing later on.

I make a point about the assets the Deputy says of wealthy people that are untouched. Yesterday we had the announcement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of current spending. After we conclude this business, the Minister for Finance will bring in his taxation measures and I advise the Deputy to wait for that. I make the point, however, that he might refer his analysis from Credit Suisse and whoever else to the Economic Fiscal Council here, which is completely independent, for its observations on those statistics. Deputy Higgins should remember that we are at the start of a four year programme to remove the country from the bailout, to close the enormous hole in the public finances and to provide an opportunity for us to change the structures of government in order that the people can have an opportunity to have a job, a career, an opportunity to move on in their lives and contribute to their country and the economy. That is what this is about. If the Deputy thinks we can just sail on regardless of the position in which we find ourselves, he is obviously not reading enough speeches.

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