Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

The Government's measures, which clearly comprise the beginning of the stabilisation programme, will amount to €2 billion this year, but it will not be long before we hear about the €4 billion that must be saved next year and so on.

A responsibility of office is to make tough decisions. The Opposition is unfortunate in this regard. While I do not expect it to fall over and say the Government has got everything right, I expect it to be responsible enough to say the Government was right on a tough decision and to back it to restore stability to the public finances. Where the Opposition does not agree with a decision, it should outline where it would make the cuts. Otherwise, it is only fooling people and letting down everyone.

I have great faith in politics as a profession. However, if the Government gets a decision wrong, we let ourselves down if all the Opposition does is kick to the sideline without offering a proper idea or robust argument on where it would make cuts or from whom it would demand additional revenue. Where the Opposition is critical, it must provide proper opposition.

Earlier this week, I mentioned that I grew up at the end of the last recession among school leavers who placed no hope in the country. They only tried to put enough money together to leave the country, a dreadful situation I will never forget. The Government must ensure the hopelessness of the 1980s never returns. For this reason, it is necessary to make such tough decisions.

It is not good or easy to govern at a time when cutbacks must be made, particularly after a time of prosperity when the most difficult decision for Ministers was the size of the increase to be given. Everyone's expectations rose as a result. Now, the international and national economies are unable to generate the same level of income. We must grab the bull by the horns and arrest expenditure growth, which has been proposed in the plan.

As the Taoiseach stated, it is never easy to ask people to pay more. People in the public sector have a job security not possessed by those in the private sector. The former must make the sacrifice that the latter has been making. Many homes and families are being visited by the devastation of unemployment to which those in the public sector are, to a certain extent, immune. For this reason, it is necessary that they make sacrifices. The public sector must be honest in this regard. During the week, people from a radio show went to County Galway to ask for comments. RTE was somewhat disappointed with its vox pop, as most people recognised the fairness of what the Government is asking people to do.

The second half of what must occur comprises measures to promote enterprise. The private sector will get us out of the recession. There must be measures to promote enterprise and the maximum amount of sustainable employment. I look forward to the relevant initiatives that will be announced in due course.