Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

We know the people have lost confidence in the Government. However, it became crystal clear overnight and early this morning that the Government had lost confidence in itself. Everyone is aware that there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle the difficulties facing the country. However, the Government has blown it and shown itself it to be out of touch with mainstream thinking in Ireland. It has also demonstrated that it is completely out of touch with how others view the country and the challenges, economic and otherwise, it faces.

I re-emphasise the points I made yesterday. First, the Government and the Houses have been discussing these issues for almost a year. Why then is a gun suddenly being placed against people's heads? Why are we suddenly discovering that the Government does not have a budgetary strategy in place to tackle the crisis which has been ongoing for at least a year? Yesterday successive speakers on the Government side stated this would be a temporary or interim measure. They are not saying that this morning. I reiterate what I said yesterday, namely, that there will be nothing temporary about the cuts in jobseeker's benefit or child benefit being proposed by the Government. I, therefore, second Deputy Twomey's amendment to the Order of Business because not only do the people deserve an opportunity to understand what is happening, it is also vital for the future of the economy that the Minister clarify the position quickly and in this House.