Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is one of the most difficult budgets ever announced in this House. My party is associated with Richie Ryan and the budget that he brought forward in the mid-1970s. The Cabinet of the time also took difficult decisions which were supported by Fine Gael and Labour Party backbenchers. I commend the Minister for Social Protection on the hard decisions that she took regarding social protection. Not long ago the media reported plans to cut €540 million from the social protection budget. Opposition Members were roaring and shouting about these cuts. We are fortunate that the reduction will only be €390 million, although that in itself will be difficult to achieve. In 2007, when Deputy Cowen's brother was Minister for Finance, the Government gave away everything. The then Minister increased all core payments by between 10% and 15%. In 2009 the budget deficit had grown to €25 billion and all core payments were cut. It is difficult to take Fianna Fáil Members seriously when they supported a series of savage cuts in 2009.

Deputy Stanley acknowledged that all budgets are difficult. His party recently presided over a difficult budget in the North of Ireland which involved the closure of PSNI stations and schools but it claims the right to stand here and make hypocritical statements about the tough decisions we are taking in government.

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