Johnny Brady (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I compliment the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, on another excellent and caring budget, especially in the area of social welfare support where the increase amounted to €900 million. Total spend on social welfare in 2008 will be approximately €17 billion, which will benefit 1.5 million people. This is most welcome.

At a time when the finances of the country are not as good as they have been in recent years, I compliment not only the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, but the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Cullen, on being able to achieve that type of package for social welfare recipients.

As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I welcome the supports that have been introduced for the farming community. The capital gains tax relief on the dissolution of farm partnership is welcome. This relief will run for a period of five years and it is estimated to cost approximately €5 million in 2008. A few of my constituents are affected by this measure. They gave up land in different parts of the county and acquired land from the land commission to start a co-operative farm partnership. This has worked well. Some people from your county, a Cheann Comhairle, came to County Meath from County Kerry many years ago under a partnership agreement. They were successful farmers.

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