Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In one sense this morning's presentation is very dismal - almost fatalistic - in pointing out all the things that are not affordable. We seem to be locked in, with the budget already decided, and that we will just be making time in 2017. Perhaps that reflects the current Dáil, which is in a kind of political stalemate. The vote on the Apple case, as some commentators noted, showed the real divide in Dáil Éireann and highlighted that fact that the minority may not have the power to change things.

Is there not a case for going to Europe and suggesting that we are entitled, and should have scope to, deviate from the medium-term rules in 2017 because, for example, Brexit may affect us more profoundly than any other country? The Minister has not spoken about how we might expand the fiscal space. Surely we can expand the fiscal space. Certain colleagues mentioned equalising the price of diesel, petrol and so on. The bodies that have appeared before the committee - the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, etc. - have suggested that if we had more revenue we would have more fiscal space, but the Minister does not seem to have any plans regarding revenue.