Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I too welcome the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill. Budget 2008 was one of the most disappointing budgets of the past ten years. There is a lack of investment in education, health, transport and the social economy. The Minister for Finance was happier to take the easy option than to drive change in budget 2008. It represented a test of leadership Deputy Brian Cowen has failed. Ordinary families and small businesses will pay for the incompetent mismanagement of the public purse that Members have witnessed in the past ten years. I refer to the hypocrisy of pre-election promises made by the Government on tax cutting, when voters were grossly misled on the state of the economy in the recent general election.

However, since last summer the Minister for Finance spoke about delivering a tight budget. He tried strenuously to dampen down expectations created by his own party, with its unrealisable pre-election promises. In advance of the election, Fianna Fáil promised 2,000 additional gardaí, 4,000 additional teachers, 1,500 additional hospital beds, 2,000 additional consultants, tax cuts, PRSI cuts, affordable housing and much more. The deceit on which the election was won, which was a carbon copy of the general election win of 2002, is clear for all to see. Tax cutting proposals that were never viable have had to be abandoned in the face of a €2 billion shortfall in tax revenues. Despite much talk about value for money, I note that the Finance Bill does not mention how to achieve it.

The budget was a bitter disappointment to those who were promised by the Government that more families would be entitled to the medical card. In the programme for Government, Fianna Fáil promised to double the income limit eligibility for parents of children under six and treble it for parents of children with a disability. However, Fianna Fáil has reneged on that commitment. The Government could easily afford to extend the medical card scheme to all children under 18. Low to middle income families again have been let down and continue to bear the brunt of inequity in the health services.

When one considers the past 10 years, one sees Fianna Fáil's record of broken promises, failed policies and missed opportunities. Instead of using the benefits of recent wealth generation to help those most in need, the Fianna Fáil Government, with its recently-acquired partners in the Green Party, merely has ensured a continuation of health, education and other quality of life disparities between the haves and the have-nots. While some have done well from a Government intent on promoting a culture of greed, l am confident the electorate will pass judgment when next afforded the opportunity.

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