The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said he would welcome a political consensus on the budgetary measures needed to get the economic situation under control.
But he said it was up to the opposition parties to put forward suggestions if they wished to do so, and the Government would then consider them. Mr Cowen said there was work which was the duty of Government to undertake.
Speaking on News at One, the Green Party leader John Gormley - who discussed the issue with the Taoiseach this morning - said there needed to be an all-party consensus on a four-year budget plan. He said some economic data should be available to the opposition.
Mr Gormley said parties should put aside their political differences, because the European Commission and the international markets have indicated that this is necessary to build confidence.
On the same programme, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said his party would be prepared to talk to anybody in the national interest. But he said talk of a national consensus was an attempt to keep Fianna Fáil in power. He said Fianna Fáil had to be put out of Government.
Fine Gael has said that while it accepts the need for a four-year by budgetary plan, it holds a different view from the Government on how to achieve savings. The party's spokesman on communications, Leo Varadkar. said there should be a public debate on the issue.
Sinn Féin said it would not be part of a consensus for what it called 'savage cuts, further deflation and unemployment'.
