Enda Kenny

“ The truth is, our economy remains fragile, and it will take us several years to recover fully.
While the creation of jobs will be at the centre of our plan, I am painfully aware this will not happen quickly enough for many who are out of work today. It will take several years to create the numbers of new jobs we need. But over the last months we have made a start, towards more jobs, towards more opportunities, towards renewed confidence; a start towards a country where our young people can stay at home to build their future here, rather than moving away ”

“ That requires fixing the enormous deficit in our public finances caused by too much borrowing, and the cost of rescuing the banks. We all know that if, in our own lives, we are spending more than we are earning, we have a problem. Right now, the state is spending €16 billion a year more than it is taking in. This problem will not be fixed unless we take action to bridge this gap. This can only be done by us, ourselves, working together. That means that in this budget we must cut public spending by €2.2 billion and raise €1.6 billion in extra taxes. ”

“ Instead, we will raise the €1.6 billion of extra taxes that Ireland needs mainly through indirect taxes, difficult though these will be.
The highest priority is to create more jobs, but we will also do all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our communities — our children, the sick, and the elderly. I wish I could tell you that the budget won't impact on every citizen in need, but I can't. Difficult choices are never easy, but we will invest in crucial projects like the National Children's Hospital, school buildings, and health centres. ”

“ Ireland supports stronger economic governance throughout Europe, and particularly in the Eurozone. In fact, the Irish people are paying the price now for the absence of such rules in the past. European leaders must make and, more importantly this time, must implement clear decisions this week to prove our shared determination to protect our currency. Otherwise, international confidence and investment in Europe will continue to fall. ”

“ I want to enable them, and thousands others like them, to achieve their full potential. I believe government, being honest and open and working with the people, will meet and beat the challenges that we face. ”

“ If you are in business, you may still not be able get the credit you need, or to get paid on time. If you're a parent who has just put the children to bed, you may be wondering how you're going to meet that mortgage, or pay those bills. ”

“ Secondly, the budget will include a series of targeted measures specifically designed to create jobs and get people back to work. It will include, among other initiatives, a new system of loan guarantees which will enable banks to resume lending and a new micro finance scheme which will help people to start their own businesses. This will allow small firms to take on one or even two new employees — new jobs to create new incomes, to assist the economy on the path to growth and confidence. ”