Micheál Martin: “If that's not a platform for negotiations, I don't know what is.”

This budget can't be seen in isolation.

I was involved in these issues in the previous government and agreement was hammered out at that stage - an agreement was arrived at, and we want to do well by honouring that agreement on all sides.

The rate of growth is declining. But to use words like ‘brutal’ is completely over the top, if you don't mind me saying so, and a gross exaggeration.

I genuinely believe that dialogue is the way. I've always believed in dialog, and I think dialogue is the way to resolve this situation.