Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Nevertheless, would Professor McMahon consider that, at a time of cost-of-living increases, the public might be suffering from some cost fatigue and that it might be necessary to alleviate the burden on them in some way to ensure good governance would be seen to be available. I do not accept the notion that it was gimmickry. Sometimes those in charge have to make decisions that are balanced. I put it to Professor McMahon that the decisions in the budget were balanced on the basis of looking at the impact of the cost of living on the public, which the public cannot identify the cause of. They see themselves as having suffered the consequences of cost-of-living increases through no fault of their own, for a variety of reasons. We understand that. What would Professor McMahon say to the suggestion that it was necessary to intervene carefully in the situation by way of various incentives, to guide the economy and at the same time give the public a raison d'êtreand a reason to go on?