The December budget - None of the choices are attractive

ANYONE who heard Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, spokesman for the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday morning got a glimpse of what our future might be like if we are not realistic about our public funding crisis.

He was calm and articulate but he was not for turning: his message was simple but unambiguous.

The EU would not tell the Government what to do to cut our budget deficit by 3% by 2014, but the target has been agreed and it must be met.