Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome the decision to take only Committee Stage of the Adoption Bill today and to have the Report Stage debate on another day. This is much more satisfactory than what was originally planned.

Unfortunately, the optimism expressed by the Deputy Leader in the House yesterday, when he indicated that tax receipts would be adequate to prevent the need for further budgetary measures, was short-lived, as became clear from the Exchequer returns published later in the day. The Taoiseach indicated that a range of taxation and expenditure adjustments would be made by the Government towards the end of the month. Again, we are waiting. I note the Taoiseach did not call this a budget. I must ask when is a budget not a budget. We are talking about spending and taxation measures. I ask the Deputy Leader to break away from the doublespeak we have heard and tell the people the truth. If we need a budget at the end of the month, the people want to see a fair and comprehensive budget. The key word is "fair". They are tired of the drip-feed of information and the lack of a roadmap. Does the Deputy Leader agree that a comprehensive roadmap is necessary to restore confidence both nationally and internationally? Without this, it is hard for people to plan. If the country does not plan, individuals do not plan. People do not know what the Government's plans are in both these areas. I ask the Deputy Leader to use his influence and that of his party to ensure we have fair and comprehensive measures and that we have a roadmap.

People can see the contrast between the waste at the top and the decisions taken on the front line, including provision for special needs, which I mentioned yesterday. The waste must be tackled, whether it is helicopter trips or the stories from FÁS which have been highlighted so effectively and for so long by Senator Ross and others in the House. Will we see comprehensive plans to end the type of waste that has resulted in so much disillusionment and made it hard for people to accept the very measures that may be necessary to save this economy? I would be interested to hear the Deputy Leader's response to these points.