THE GOVERNMENT was focused on maintaining budgetary discipline, Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil.
"The downside scenario and risks that were outlined in the Budget statement have materialised in practically all cases," he said. "Ireland is not immune from those international developments.''
The Government, he said, would seek to ensure that it worked within the budgetary parameters it had set itself.
Mr Cowen was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said that Ireland faced a serious economic challenge as growth was projected to be slightly more than one per cent this year. "More than 200,000 people were on the Live Register in May, and there is a shortfall in taxes of €3 billion, in addition to the unprecedented projected deficit of €5 billion," he added.
People were highly agitated, fearing that the Government did not have a plan to manage the economy.
