Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It starts in September, but why not earlier? If this is the real issue it has been identified as being, why wait three quarters of the year before providing the support that is needed? We support the Minister's overall approach. However, to imagine that a sum of €32 million will deliver anything like universal coverage is obviously misguided. It will be quite complicated to deliver the scheme outlined by the Minister, Deputy Zappone. We will see the meat of it in the coming weeks. The Labour Party put forward during the last election and again in our pre-budget submission a clear and understandable universal scheme that applies to everyone. Everyone would get a break. At the end of the day, we might even get a chance to return to it.

I have deliberately spoken at some length on the positive aspects of the budget. It is important to do so. This Chamber should acknowledge when we are going in the right direction.

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