Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Kitt for sharing his time with me. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill which the Minister published last week. It gives effect to the measures announced in the emergency budget of 7 April. As the Minister has stated, the Bill strikes a difficult balance between the need to show a credible way forward for dealing with our structural problems and also the need to protect the economy. Like everything in life, it is about balance and this budget is a very balanced contribution towards getting us back on the right track.

The Bill contains measures that, although difficult, are necessary to stabilise the economy. I welcome the decisive action taken by the Cabinet and the Minister for Finance in dealing with this economic crisis. The Bill outlines the six essential steps we must undertake for financial renewal, namely: stabilising our public finances; restoring our damaged banking system; regaining competitiveness; protecting the jobs we have and investing in retraining those who have lost jobs; supporting and stimulating economic confidence as much as we can within the resources available; and, crucially, restoring our reputation abroad.

See this speech in context