Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The decisions taken, although challenging for many people, are vital to ensure that we will never again occupy the position in which we have found ourselves in recent years. We must address the fiscal deficit problem. The steps taken in this year's budget put us on the path to meeting our target of reducing the fiscal deficit to 3% by 2015.

Job creation is of fundamental importance in the context of the budget. Reducing the deficit has a number of positive implications for the economy. A reduction in the deficit will mean that credit will be available for Ireland at better rates as investor confidence increases. Cheaper credit means that business will be in a position to borrow again. The knock-on effects of this are that businesses will be able to grow and, in doing so, will be in a position to hire additional workers. This budget contains specific measures targeted at job creation.

While there is no single policy solution to the issues confronting all of us, the Government has set out a clear and coherent plan to return the economy to growth and to create jobs. While the path ahead will be difficult and will involve more hard choices, I can give an assurance on behalf of the Government that whatever must be done in the coming years will be done. What we are doing is in the best interests of the Irish people and will secure the long-term sustainability of the economy. We want to create an economy where jobs will be at core and to the fore in respect of which will be everyone's future prosperity.