Kenny: Budget will be tough on all
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has reiterated his warning that the upcoming budget will entail very difficult spending cuts and revenue raising measures.
Mr Kenny, whose mother Eithne passed away this morning at the age of 93, this evening attended the party's annual presidential dinner in Dublin.
In his speech to over 1,000 party faithful tonight, Mr Kenny said his Government would not "shy away from" the problems facing the country.
"The strong mandate we have received from the Irish people is one that I and my colleagues in Government exercise with great seriousness," Mr Kenny said.
"It’s a mandate to face up to and tackle the problems of the country."
The Taoiseach said this budget will be "tough on everyone", but he will nonetheless protect the most vulnerable and be focused on creating jobs.
Speaking at the gathering Mr Kenny criticised Coillte Chief Executive David Gunning after it emerged that he is the only chief of a semi-state agency that has refused to take a voluntary pay cut.
The Taoiseach said he was "very disappointed" by Mr Gunning's refusal of the Government's request for a voluntary cut of 15% in his salary.
And after a week that appeared rifts were emerging in the coalition, Mr Kenny tonight declared that Government is working very well and very hard to lead the country to recovery.
"In the eight months since taking office, the Government has made a good start, but there is long way to go," he said.
"Despite the huge constraints imposed by the EU/IMF programme, we have made some progress. We have worked hard to restore Ireland’s international reputation which was so tarnished by the previous Government.
"Economic growth – although slow - has returned. The banks have been restructured. We have established two pillar banks and imposed losses on junior bond holders.
"Despite the scepticism of our opponents, we have secured significant improvements in the terms of the EU/IMF programme, improvements that will yield savings to the taxpayer of over €10bn."
On the euro crisis, the Taoiseach said that quick and decisive decisions are needed to protect the currency.
"It is essential that European leaders make and implement clear decisions quickly to prove our shared determination to protect our currency, to support Member States that are working towards economic recovery, and to introduce strong rules to ensure fiscal discipline," he said.
"Let me be clear – Ireland supports the creation of stronger economic governance throughout Europe, and particularly throughout the Eurozone."
But he said the Government's message to its colleagues in Brussels is that Ireland cannot return to the policies that drove the economy off a cliff - reckless spending, poor oversight of banks and over-reliance on property related tax revenues.
"I look forward to the proposals for stronger governance in the Eurozone to be presented by the President of the European Council next month which may include limited changes to the EU treaties," he said.
"We will engage positively in the debate on these proposals.
"However, to tackle the immediate crisis, the first priority must be to use the existing instruments and decisions to their full potential so that the markets can be convinced that European leaders are fully committed to defending and protecting their currency."
