Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 December 2005

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed).

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I am sorry there has been a mix-up. I am aware Deputy Ring has a long journey to the north west.

After all the hype and promises, yesterday turned out to be a disappointing non-event. The Minister for Finance had more than €50 billion at his disposal, a massive amount of money, but the result is a bland and essentially neutral budget. There was expectation in the media yesterday morning that there would be a major and fundamental initiative on child care at least, and perhaps some major new surprise development that would have given a personal stamp to the Department of Finance. As we quickly read through the budget as the Minister spoke, we realised that nothing much had occurred. It lacked flair and did nothing serious about the grave situation facing young and hard-working parents travelling up to 50 miles to work every day.

The events of recent days have been overshadowed to a large extent. It is often said that the former Minister for Finance, Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, was a lucky punter who happened to be a lucky Minister for Finance for six and a half years.

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