Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I usually welcome the opportunity to say something, but I do not think anybody can welcome the opportunity to say something about this budget. VAT has been increased by 0.5%, which may not look like that much, but it will have a negative effect in a declining market where shop owners are laying off workers. The 5.2% VAT return to farmers has not been re-examined. I am promised every year that this would be re-evaluated, but I do not see any sign of it at all. In light of the fact that farmers are being penalised in every way in this budget, in areas such as the farm retirement scheme, insulation aid and other structures, the VAT refund would have been a useful benefit.

As one who comes from a Border constituency, just like the Tánaiste, one of the benefits is that petrol prices have been somewhat lower in the South recently. This has encouraged shoppers and others to do business around the Border areas. That opportunity will quickly disappear because of this increase. It is sad this is being done by our Government. Many people from Cavan-Monaghan must go to work in Dublin. They will be further penalised. Jobs have not been created for them in their own constituency. I know the Tánaiste will announce a couple of hundred jobs next week. I hope that unlike decentralisation these jobs will come to fruition, but that is another day's work.

There is a major question over the structures of the petrol companies. The banks and the lack of leadership shown by them have been the talking point for the past few weeks, but there must be collusion in fixing the price of petrol and diesel. I acknowledge there is a small difference in the prices. I do not think price fixing is being organised at local level but rather by the companies. Many of the people at the petrol pumps have gone out of business in recent years. They are not the ones making a fortune but the big companies certainly are. I ask that this be investigated.

I have no major problem with the resolution on the price of tobacco and wine, considering the health implications of tobacco and the increased consumption of wine at home.

County Monaghan certainly will not get any decentralisation and the barracks are to be closed. For those people in the barracks the price of petrol or diesel will not be an issue. The closure is an absolute scandal.

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