Simon Harris

We do have to take it step by step.

And I'm not flippant when I say, I don't mean to be flippant.

No one should be flippant about this.

When I say there can't be a budget every week, but there can't.

You know, we have just announced one of the largest packages, if not the largest, in the European Union.

We managed to do that without borrowing because the economy is in good stead.

No, I don't agree with that at all.

I mean, I do agree that people are angry.

I do agree that people are really feeling the pinch.

And obviously there was widespread protest across the country.

But we had already taken measures on excise and we had already said we intended to come back and do more in relation to the agri-food sector and in relation to the haulage sector.

But I have to be honest with people.

If I thought this crisis was going to end today, tomorrow, next week, next month, of course we could have different conversations about what to do in the era now.

But I have to be honest about the winter.

Well, firstly, I don't believe they will.

Secondly, there is funding in the budget for a public sector pay talk this year, and that will get underway shortly.

We do just need to be very careful.

This is not a specific comment in relation to the Guards or unions or anybody else.

We've constructive engagement with unions in this country.

We do just need to try and pull together, though, at this moment, too.