Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Acting Chairman is one of the fairer Members of the Oireachtas and he understands what has happened here, which has been happening over recent months. I thank him for affording me some time.

With respect to the budget, just because a Minister says something is so does not mean it is actually so but I acknowledge that the economy has improved and is heading in the right direction. There are many groupings responsible for that. It is important to recognise the role of the troika although it was depicted as cramping our political system, and the role of the late Brian Lenihan, and if I may make so bold, the former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. Notwithstanding the many errors they made and that their Government destroyed the economy here, at the 11th hour, at one minute to midnight, when they had no choice a system and policies were put in place. Many people have suffered in their implementation. The current Government has carried through those measures.

It is equally important to recognise that the economic collapse resulted in the setting up of certain bodies, one of which was the Fiscal Advisory Council. The role of the Central Bank was changed. The Minister for Finance acknowledged in his opening paragraph that we pay heed to such bodies as were set up to ensure that politicians do not run away with themselves.

The accountancy trick with respect to the Supplementary Estimate and the spending on budget day was not in keeping with the spirit of the way business was supposed to be carried out in this House. We in Renua Ireland believe that Irish people pay too much tax and brought forward a flat tax proposal of 23%.

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