Cowen looks forward to an open, informed and lively debate on Ireland’s Future

Speaking at an economic luncheon in Chicago yesterday, the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, TD stated: “While the parties are beginning to set out their stalls and exhibit their wares, as Minister for Finance, my first responsibility is to secure the gains already made. That means ensuring that the right policy mix is in place to protect jobs, to keep taxes low and to fund social services that make a vital difference to the lives of this country’s citizens. That balance has been struck successfully over the past ten years and underpins our current prosperity. “

“Our policy must seek to build for the future by raising our productive capacity and in so doing improve our potential to enjoy a better quality of life. That is the context in which the new National Development Plan was framed. The Plan will transform our National Infrastructure. It will give Ireland the public wealth it needs if we are to sustain our current prosperity into the future while simultaneously enhancing quality of life. We must not allow that opportunity to pass us by. “

“Promises to change the policy balance, whether through unaffordable spending commitments, a return to deficit financing or a higher taxation burden, put that prosperity at risk. That is why we will only make commitments which are affordable today, tomorrow and in the long-run.”

“I look forward to having an open, informed and lively debate about Ireland’s future with those of an alternative viewpoint over the coming weeks. That is why our proposals for the next five years will be fully costed, fully detailed and fully affordable. Others need to spell out which of the myriad of promises they have made in the past five years are operative, which are optional and which are liable to being reneged upon. If we are to have a serious engagement on the issues, those offering themselves for office will have to set before the people the bottom-line specifics of the changes they will make and the implications of those changes for our taxes, our budget and our prosperity.”

He concluded his speech by stating:”No one owes us a living. We must earn it. Sustainable economic policies and affordable economic policies are the bedrock of responsible governance. They have served us well in the past and will, I hope, be allowed to serve us well in the future.”

Ends

15 March, 2007.