Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

This would create a minimum of 60,000 jobs and potentially save up to 100,000 others.

Our approach to economic recovery is far more comprehensive than the Government's deficit focus strategy. The Government believes it can cut its way out of the recession, but this was tried by Fianna Fáil and it completely and utterly failed; €20.6 billion of unfair taxes and cuts later, has the Government not learned the lesson? If cuts and flat taxes worked, the deficit would have closed by now.

The fact that the budget is predicated on a set of growth figures for next year which have already been reviewed downwards by observers means the budgetary adjustment will not have its desired effect. I am sure the Minister is blushing at the fact that after huge anticipation a few days ago about what the growth rates would be in 2012 he came to the Chamber today and downgraded the rates by 0.3%. Is the Government making this up as it goes along?

See this speech in context