I join others in raising the issue of cuts to allowances for public servants as reported in the media this morning. I ask the Acting Leader to raise the issue of the forthcoming budget. While I would not always agree with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, he was spot on in highlighting that consumer confidence was being directly affected by Ministers flying kites as to what might and might not be cut. We cannot have a different budget every time the Irish Independent prints an article. The people deserve some clarity and some element of confidence but this does not give them that. If there are to be cuts and savings announced, Ministers should not fly kites. As Senator Byrne has said, it is a sad day when our target is the people who are directly at the coalface on the front line. It is the nurses, soldiers, gardaí and teachers. Those people in middle Ireland, who are lucky enough to have jobs-----

Crocodile tears.

----- but are perceived to be making a fortune, are the automatic targets of the Government when preparing budgets. It is wrong that these people represent the first line we seek to attack. In any event it is absolutely unacceptable for Ministers to continue to fly kites in trying to balance the delicate mix of backbenchers in the Labour Party and Fine Gael against their own popularity. I call on the Acting Leader to invite the Minister for Finance to the House to give some clarity in the context of his budget preparations. He might take a lead from the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, in instructing the rest of the Ministers to keep their mouths shut for now or else announce the budget.