Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I gave a strong return on USC. I am not saying that Deputy McGrath's approach could not be done and that a budget could not be brought in based on that approach, but I do not think it would represent incentives for the labour force; it would just be a way of giving some money back to people. In this budget I was interested in incentivising people, and it seems to be working. There is a huge third-quarter increase in the number of people at work. There is a huge increase in the number of people going from part-time to full-time work, and it will continue. However, that is not to say that the Deputy will never be right. I do not think he will be right in the next budget, but he might be right in the budget in the middle of the next Parliament, when it may be necessary to adjust credits and bands again.