European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton said today that the Government has no choice but to proceed with implementing the Budget.
Minister Creighton says she does not underestimate the huge impact the decisions will have on people's lives.
However, the Junior Minister is insisting that the coalition will not be rowing back on any of the measures.
"I don't underestimate the huge impact that the Budget has on everybody's lives in this State, and I know that's it very, very difficult and very hard for millions of people in the State," she said.
"But the Government has no choice. We have no option but to proceed and implement the decisions that were announced in the Budget."
Minister Creighton said that the decisions that will be taken in next year and the following year's Budgets will not be as difficult, however.
In clinics for much of day. Lot of anger about the budget. Has failed basic test of fairness. People livid about cut to respite care grant.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) December 7, 2012