Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is to be welcomed overall that the deficit reduction programme is on target, but I imagine the Minister will accept that most people measure the strength of the economy by the number of jobs being created and the amount of disposable income in their pockets. I do not expect the Minister to reveal important elements of the budget today.

People will seek reassurance and it is reasonable for me to ask the Minister whether the fundamental commitments, that date to before the election and are enshrined in the programme for Government, on maintaining income tax, welfare rates and the preservation of the Croke Park agreement, form the basis of the preparation of the budget.

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