Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach ought to accept some responsibility. If one wants to find the solution to the economic problems in the country, one has to accept mistakes were made here.

The Opposition had a limited briefing on the economy at the Department of Finance yesterday. The House called for a meaningful debate before the new budget is announced. It must be a meaningful debate with Ministers outlining the policy rationale behind their decision making in recent months and years. We need details from Ministers on the policy choices facing them. We need details of the cost benefit analyses of the options available to them. We need to understand the policy rationale behind what the Government, in particular the Taoiseach, said in recent weeks concerning the decentralisation programme, the reform programme and other areas. We cannot have empty scripts. We need information if we wish to have a real debate on the policy choices facing the country.

For example, we cannot just have a "Yes-No" debate to the suggested cuts to child benefit. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs must explain to the House the policy options, costs, benefits and rationale if we are to have a meaningful debate before budgetary decisions are made, as Senators demanded yesterday.