Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----perhaps she can examine whether it will be possible in future years for information to be provided to the House and to the public on the same day as the budget. If that were done, it would inform those who are considering the finance and social welfare Bills on Committee Stage.

The last line of the amendment says that the Government "is committed to a vision for Ireland which provides for economic and social recovery and focuses on measures which will assist people to return to work, continue to build consumer confidence and strengthen demand in the domestic economy". It is very important to focus on increasing employment rates. It is interesting that the other two areas of policy measure that are mentioned are consumer confidence and domestic demand. It is great that we will have policies to help people get back to work, but something is lacking when an amendment to a motion that is about equality and human rights refers to increasing consumer confidence and domestic demand - basically, helping people to buy more stuff. It is just a reflection. Perhaps it is time for the Government to broaden its thinking beyond economic recovery to other things like the rights and equality issues referred to in the motion before the House.

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