Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is probably the case of the Minister playing his cards close to his chest to help in Cabinet negotiations in the future.

This State is the most indebted of any state, globally. Has the Government considered different ways by which household debt could be alleviated through budgetary measures?

Up to 120,000 enterprises have closed over the past several years, which is a phenomenal figure. Main Street Ireland will say the likes of flat taxes - taxes that are not progressive and do not fully reflect earning capability - are hitting consumer expenditure. Is it not contradictory to forecast increases in consumer spending while attacking the ability of the consumer to spend through these taxes?