FINE GAEL finance spokesman Richard Bruton claimed the Government was not providing enough information to the Opposition in advance of the budget.

Mr Bruton said he had written to the Minister for the Finance, Brian Lenihan, 11 days ago looking for the revised economic forecast for GDP, an updated figure on the tax forecasts for this year, along with a number of other tax options that were available.

“We are facing into an unprecedented set of decisions. The House needs to have maximum information so that we may subject the options to scrutiny if we hope to make the best choices in these extremely difficult times to protect employment and the economy and build for the future.’’

Mr Bruton said wholly inappropriate decisions had been made year after year because budgetary options were not subjected to scrutiny.

He was speaking during the pre-budget debate, which was opened for the Government by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.

Mr Dempsey said that the restoration of the public finances to a stable and sustainable footing and the revitalising of the Irish economy was a challenge that the Government would address successfully.

“The exact details of the Government’s plan for the necessary fiscal adjustments will be unveiled on April 7th.

“Above all else, the decisions will be taken in a fair and equitable manner while protecting the most vulnerable in our society.’’

However, Labour spokeswoman Joan Burton warned that “a misguided exclusive obsession with the budget deficit can compound the very disease it wishes to control’’.

Deficits, she said, could melt away like the snow when the economic spring came, and remarkably fast too.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that in replies to Dáil questions, the Taoiseach had given “an ominous signal that social welfare will be included in expenditure cuts’’.