Yesterday we saw the rather unedifying spectacle of this House being focused entirely on the job of one person, when the work of this House should have been focused on the lives and the careers of the approximately 500,000 people who are unemployed and the approximately 700 job losses announced in Aer Lingus following 250 in Intel. Other people are being let go because of a lack of credit being made available to them by banks, and their inability to get credit and have extended facilities made available to them. That is what the House should focus on.

There is no coherence on where the Government is heading in terms of job protection and job creation in so far as public finances are concerned. What is the Government's plan for the public finances and the fiscal strategy therein? In April of this year the Minister for Finance set out his additional measures to be delivered in 2010 and 2011. A total of €2.25 billion was to be delivered in cuts this year from current expenditure and capital expenditure according to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. Since then, on more than one occasion the Minister has said that the strategy of the Government is to have €4 billion in cuts in spending. That seems to be a clear departure from the April supplementary Budget Statement issued by the Minister on behalf of the Government.

What is the strategy? Have the Greens — who will meet this weekend — the former leader of the Progressive Democrats and the Government signed up to a new fiscal strategy in so far as public finances are concerned? Is it to be €2.25 billion in total spending cuts with a further €2.5 billion from taxation or is it €4 billion in spending cuts for this year? Which is it? Has everybody signed up to a new strategy that has been adopted by the Government? Will the Taoiseach respond on the Government's plan in terms of public finances from here on?

The mid-term fiscal consolidation plan has been approved by the EU Commission for some time. During the course of this year the Minister introduced a supplementary budget in April. He has indicated since then that he believes the bulk of the savings that will have to be achieved for 2010 should come on the expenditure side rather than on the taxation side. He made that position clear. That approach is generally recognised as being in the right direction. In preparation for the budget we are maintaining the mid-term fiscal consolidation proposals on the basis that a serious deferral of it over a longer period would increase the debt service repayments and the amount of existing resources going towards debt service interest, which is not in the interests of the country in the long term. The question of stabilising the public finances and working along the procedures and plans as outlined by the Minister for Finance remains the position of the Government, forms the central framework under which the Government is operating and that will continue to be the case.

The point is that the Minister for Finance said in his Budget Statement in April that we are to have total spending cuts of €2.25 billion. Since then he has repeatedly said it is now €4 billion in spending cuts. I would like to know which policy it is. He mentioned €2.5 billion in taxation and €2.25 billion in spending cuts in his April statement but since then he has said there will be cuts of €4 billion. Can I have a straight answer? Will there be €4 billion in total spending cuts without any taxation increases or will it be €2.25 billion?

During the Taoiseach's absence in America last week I asked the Tánaiste about the NAMA situation currently under discussion in the House but she did not have the full information available. It seems as if there is a growing body of opinion that the NAMA proposal as put forward by the Government will not work. In the light of comments made even yesterday by a Nobel laureate in economics that it would be criminal to pay over the odds for assets as per the Government's proposal, has the Government received a guarantee from Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland that they will lend the money they will get under the NAMA proposal to business and small enterprise? Has any indication been given as to when that might happen or how much money will be available for lending to small and medium enterprises under the NAMA proposal? In the middle of the avalanche of calls yesterday I was contacted by nine small businesses that are strangled for money and cannot get it from the banks despite all of the talk. Will the Taoiseach answer those three questions in respect of NAMA; when he expects the banks can start lending, whether he has a guarantee that they will lend the money they receive, and what order of finance is envisaged?

With regard to the first matter, I have outlined to Deputy Kenny that the total level of adjustment envisaged by the Minister for Finance in respect of next year, based on his public comments, is €4 billion. In his Budget Statement he gave indicative figures relating to expenditure and taxation as to how that adjustment will be made. He has indicated on many occasions since then that he believes the bulk of the €4 billion saving should be more on the expenditure side than on the taxation side. He will meet with Commissioner Almunia on Friday to update him on recent developments and obviously will work with him on the best way of achieving stability in the public finances. I note from some comments he has made that it is Deputy Kenny's view, although it is hard to maintain a coherent approach with what he has to say on these matters,——

It is hard to make head or tail of what is going on over there as well.

——that he would extend the period of time way beyond what is envisaged in the fiscal consolidation plan, which is for a five year period to the end of 2013. That is the Deputy's position, as I understand it at present. We will wait to hear what his party's spokesman on finance has to say about it.

When did I say that?

The Deputy said it in an interview.

When was that?

The Deputy said it in his first interview when he came back. I will get the Deputy the quote.

Get your research unit on it.

Is the Deputy suggesting he did not say it?

The Taoiseach should check it.

I have no problem backing it up.

Check it.

I will get it for the Deputy just to remind him. It is important that he know himself what he is talking about, whatever about anybody else knowing what he is talking about.

It is like the Taoiseach runs the Government — make it up as you go along.

They can move into the Ceann Comhairle's office or the media unit.

Allow the Taoiseach to make his final reply.

Is Deputy Ring supporting Deputy Kenny this morning?

I always support him.