Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

That is almost unbelievable. This is in a context where unemployment fell from 10% to approximately 4% now. These are revolutionary changes. It is not charity or generosity, but part of what Fianna Fáil believes in. Anybody who has independently analysed the budget, has admitted that Fianna Fáil has always been loyal and committed to providing proper social welfare in a fair manner.

The most encouraging aspect of the budget and of what the Minister had to say concerns the qualified adult allowance, about which everyone is excited. I would be amazed if members of the Opposition were not also encouraged by this development whereby qualified adults will be recipients in their own right. We have been heading in that direction for some time, not only in the tax code which has moved to individualisation, but in the fact that savings are assessed separately and that qualified adults can claim separately, albeit in restricted circumstances, as described by Deputy Beverley Flynn earlier. This was remarked on during the general election campaign.

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