Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ministers for attending and being so frank in outlining their budgetary proposals. We cannot ask them to elucidate much more at this stage, but we will strongly support what we have seen of the budgetary policy so far while being mindful of the needs arising from the cost of living and of the various sectors they referred to that may need treatment of a specific nature.

If they can, will they indicate the extent to which they continue to review those agencies that are in particularly sensitive areas like education, health and housing, to name just three? To what extent can they assist those in the budget without adding further to inflation and still reassure and encourage people who have felt the cold winds of inflation upon them over the past year in particular?