Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Over the last few days, we have heard a new version from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the bank guarantee scheme, and this raises many questions. Today, hard working people in Ireland will find out the further cost of years of mismanagement by this Government. They will see tax increases, cuts in social welfare and threats to front line services to name but a few ways in which their lives will be impacted by this budget. The Minister for Finance told us last year that we had turned the corner. We know now that is not true because that has not happened. We face a most serious situation in our national finances today. The question must be asked how should the budget be judged. Fine Gael will judge it on a number of pillars. Will it introduce reform? The public are looking for reform of how we do our business. We have raised many times the way in which the budget itself is presented. There has been no new mechanism to involve these Houses in the budget. We will also judge it on whether it is fair and protect the most vulnerable. That is a key question for the many people who have had to claim unemployment benefit. Also, will it create jobs? Is there a job stimulus package? That is a critical question for those tens of thousands who have become unemployed. They must be given some hope and find a way back to work and education. That is a critical test of the budget.

Fine Gael has put forward our four year plan, a fully costed plan that has been made public and the Government is aware of our views. I hope some of the initiatives we have suggested will be incorporated. Today should mark the end of this Government's time, it should herald a new beginning for the country. The sooner we have a new Government in place, the better.

We will have an opportunity to discuss the budget further but I want to raise the issues aired on "Prime Time Investigates" last night about marginalised communities. It focused on a particular community in Limerick but at this time, when we are making serious decisions about budgets, we must think about those communities that are most marginalised. No family in this country should have to cope with the type of anti-social behaviour and the absolute stress they are being forced to cope with as a result of anti-social behaviour in their community. To see ordinary families facing such distress and upset while they try to continue their lives, while facing extraordinary anti-social behaviour, was harrowing in the extreme.