Alan Kelly (Labour)

I welcome the Government's announcement yesterday about its plans. However, I would prefer if it used real language, rather than spin, and told it like it is. For a long time, most of us have been saying there was a need for another budget, and now the Government is saying it will do this but is not calling it a budget. It brought in levies and did not call them taxes. People will not buy this. Is it any wonder they are cynical when they are seeing money going out of their wage packets and yet the Government will not call them taxes? This must stop. I also welcome the fact the Government has invited the Opposition parties to contribute. However, it must be a real contribution. There is no point in doing this in a token fashion. The Government has already taken on a number of ideas my party has put forward, and I would like to see it take on more. However, its members must interact in a genuine way and not cynically engage in banter across the floors of the Houses.

Serious questions must be asked about the advice coming from the Department of Finance. Every single figure that has been announced in either House in the last year and a half has been not just wrong but gigantically wrong. The Tánaiste said last week there would be no change and that the public finances were fine, but a week later estimates are saying the complete opposite. This is crazy stuff. No Government should be run like this. We must ensure we have the right advice. If we need further advice let us go and get it, because we need it fairly quickly.

I would like the Government to make a statement on the national development plan and the prioritisation of projects. This was touched on previously and I would like an update in this regard from the Deputy Leader if possible. I am particularly concerned about broadband and where it fits into the plan. It should be the number one priority.

I agree with the previous speaker about the role of tourism, which has never been more important to the Irish economy than it is now. We must protect it. Whatever cuts are being introduced, I ask the Deputy Leader to ensure they do not affect spending in one of the most valuable sectors of the economy. Tourism is important across the island, particularly in areas facing difficult circumstances due to the regional spread of economic activity. Investment in tourism should be maintained to ensure the regional distribution of wealth does not change.