Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These values underpin the reality of the substantial investment in public services which this Government has delivered in this budget. The improvements in our public services that this investment will make possible have the simple, basic and most important goal of endeavouring to make life better for all, but especially for our most vulnerable.

Some on the Opposition benches claim that the very act of governing and of making choices is a desire to create a society where some gain and some lose, as opposed to what it truly is - an attempt to create a better collective future for us all. The spending increases I have announced in such areas as health, housing, education and child care are a testament to how this better future can be secured and safeguarded. Those of us in the middle ground of politics have a duty to show that co-operation and consensus can work; to show that our tone can be moderate, but still convincing; and to show that things will not just fall apart and the centre can and will hold, stay firm and will grow. It was in this spirit that this partnership Government was formed and it is in this spirit that I commend these Estimates to the House.

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