Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate, with 13 days to go to the budget, which will be announced during the week of my birthday. I hope, therefore, it will not be all doom and gloom. I have had a sense all week of the doom and gloom everywhere. However, I met Deputy Charles Flanagan on my way to the Chamber who said he has been promoting the notion of us having a happy week. Perhaps he is correct.

We have all been cheered up and buoyed by the good news that has broken through the doom and gloom. I am reminded of this by the Minister of State, Deputy Curran. Bernard Dunne cheered us all up late last Saturday night and, earlier that evening, I was in a pub in Tallaght watching Ireland narrowly defeat Wales for a great victory. Those two results cheered us all up significantly. As I went about my business on Saturday and Sunday, people were buoyed by what had occurred in Clondalkin, Tallaght and throughout the country. We need more of this. I will attend the new Tallaght stadium on Friday night to watch Shamrock Rovers play Derry City and, on Saturday, I hope to attend Croke Park where my Tallaght neighbour, Robbie Keane, will lead out the Ireland team to play Bulgaria. We need these outlets because many bad news stories are breaking

As we all go about our business, we are aware people are worried and living in fear because they do not know what will happen. There is a great deal of speculation and many commentators are giving different views. I recall having to emigrate at a time when information about Government finances was not made public. Thank God for George Lee. A great deal of information is being put out by the media, which must do their job. However, it worries people and they are concerned about what will happen. I echo the comments of previous speakers that whatever happens on 7 April, the budget should be about fairness and equity.

The Minister of State shares my commitment to social inclusion. I said repeatedly at the time that large boats were rising that the little boats had to be remembered, but this is absolutely the case as the large boats struggle. I am a member of the executive of the Tallaght drugs task force and there is great concern about services. All of us are receiving many representations. I attended a presentation by the Carers Association earlier and I met the association's representatives in Tallaght last Monday morning. Everybody has a case to make and I am trying to listen to all the groups, which all want to be the priority, but the Government must strike a balance. However, we cannot neglect the groups looking after vulnerable people, including the drugs programmes.

There is significant speculation about social welfare payments but circumstances would have to be bad if we were not to continue to look after those in receipt of such payments, as Fianna Fáil has always done. Vulnerable people will always need this assistance. I was made redundant three times earlier in my career and I signed on in my local social welfare office. I know, therefore, how difficult it can be. Everybody, including social welfare recipients, is under significant pressure and everybody is feeling the recession. However, the unemployed, the unemployable and those with disabilities will worry even more. All Members have commented strongly on the need to look after those in poverty and, as vice-chairman of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. With all the competing demands, it is important that this vulnerable group in society continues to receive Government aid and I hope the Minister will take that into account.

I represent Dublin South-West and I live in Tallaght, where 7,261 people were signing on in January, according to the most recent figures. Whatever about the doom and gloom and the need to correct the Exchequer finances and look forward, it must be remembered that at some point people must be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel and the beginning of a recovery. Even though it is gloomy currently, I hope everyone in Government strives for that. People need to continue about their business spending the money they have in the shops and on entertainment and leading as normal a life as they can. I have lived through previous recessions and recovery was always important. It is always about getting out of the recession and working through it. Preserving and creating jobs, even though that is difficult and demanding, must continue to be the core principle underpinning what the Government is doing.

The Minister of State referred to what has been done in America and different approaches. I received a letter from someone, who probably wrote to every other Member, saying we needed a Barack Obama but that person received a reply saying he probably would not be elected.

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