The €15 billion cuts over the next four years announced by the Minister for Finance are “a decision reached by the Irish Government”, according to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
He was responding to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny before the two-day Dáil debate on the economy. Mr Kenny, who said the “days of bluffing and false promises are over”, asked if the €15 billion in cuts was a decision of the Irish Government “or a decision imposed on them by the European Commission”.
In a one line answer the Taoiseach said it was “a decision reached by the Irish Government”.
Mr Kenny then asked if the Government, after two days at Farmleigh, had arrived at how the €15 billion was to be broken up over the next four years.
Mr Cowen told him “in the publication of the four year plan we will set out those yearly components based on ongoing discussions at Government and also various variables and data that’s incoming to Government currently”.
Earlier Independent Dublin North-Central TD Finian McGrath claimed the independents were being excluded from the debate. He said the Government and Opposition parties were “in here talking about Dáil reform for the last 20 years and independents, democratically elected TDs are not allowed to speak on a major huge financial crisis in this State. I think it’s appalling, disgraceful and not acceptable”.
When Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk said there were proposals Mr McGrath interrupted and said angrily “a lousy 15 minutes, five minutes each” for the three independents not supporting the Government – Mr McGrath, former Fianna Fáil Wicklow TD Joe Behan and Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan.
Mr Cowen said, however, that “if there are any independent TDs who want to speak, they should talk to the whip. It’s important that anyone who wishes to speak should have the opportunity to do so.”
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the Opposition parties had not been provided by the Government with the final definitive growth forecast for next year, the detailed macro-economic forecast for the next four years, the proposed adjustment for next year, a template for the four-year plan, an explanation as to how the cost of the bank bailout was to be treated in the Government accounts and the proposed savings from the Croke Park agreement.
Mr Cowen said the Cabinet was considering those matters for some weeks. The Department of Finance had been available to Opposition spokespersons and would remain so.
The four-year plan would be published in mid-November, he added.