Budget Deficit and Proposed Spending Cuts
O’Kennedy cited the record deficit and a reported £50 million target, then sought a guarantee that monitoring would not bring further cuts to essential services. Dukes declined to answer, and the exchanges continued amid procedural interventions and personal barbs.
My question arise from statements made by Government spokesmen on this Cabinet decision. What the Minister presents as progress means that we have the highest budget deficit target and I should like to ask the Minister if that means that we have the highest budget deficit target already of £1,234 million and the highest on record in terms of GNP percentage. Will the Minister acknowledge that £50 million is the figure being mentioned in comments on the committee? Will the Minister agree that the only way the Government can reach that £50 million which is a consequence of his wrong calculations on unemployment and borrowing is to cut back on normal services, be they social welfare, health or otherwise that were originally sanctioned in the Estimates published——
Comment on this
Would the Minister guarantee to the House that the monitoring would not involve further cuts, in addition to the savings of £28 million already announced since the budget on essential services, be they educational, social or economic?
Comment on this
I feel that I would be in difficulty with you, Sir, if I were to answer that question. Deputy O'Kennedy is now raising as many hares as he possibly can because he has realised that his original question was ill-advised and ill-placed.
Comment on this
We have only speeches and then lectures from the other side, but one begets the other.
Comment on this
It makes it impossible, Deputy. I would not like to see Deputy Flynn up here from his own place.
Comment on this
I could handle them for you, a Cheann Comhairle. The Ceann Comhairle is not tall enough to look into the Minister's eyes.