Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

On this side of the House we know our responsibilities, which are major and unprecedented. First, we have to get on with the job of stabilising the public finance system and the banks. We have to maintain a pro-enterprise, competitive taxation system. I would like the Commission on Taxation to examine ways we can maintain a low tax system with taxes adjusted to best attract jobs and investment and encourage people to stay and work and invest in our economy. We recognise the Government's commitment to building a world-class science and technology sector in Ireland. There is plenty of evidence of that and plenty of employment in my region of the country. The Labour Party motion calls on the Government to avail of lower tender prices for school building. Of course we are doing so. Why would anybody have to call on us to avail of lower tender prices? That is why the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, is able to get many more schools done this year than last year. We must get prices down all over the economy to make up for the tax increases and wage cuts.

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