Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

There was an alternative. We, and many outside this House, articulated an alternative. It was an alternative where the Minister did not go down the soft option of raising taxes. The Minister is raising €2 billion in taxes today. That is the reality. That is €2 billion out of the economy. That is making it tougher for people to get by. It is tougher for people to spend. The Minister has also cut the capital budget by €1.3 billion. That is reducing activity in the economy. Those are the decisions.

When one looks to his current spending budgets, the Minister is still pushing ahead. There is €2 billion extra on current spending, only a quarter of which is for social welfare. He has pushed ahead with extra pay in the public service right across the board.

There were alternatives. We and many outside this House offered alternatives, but the Minister has taken the soft road. He will not be forgiven for this budget.

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