Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I always like to get the opportunity to speak on the budget. All of us would rather get more than five or seven minutes to do that but I will try to say what I have to within that time. We must take the budget in context. It involves €58 billion of expenditure, so €1.2 billion from that is a bit like a household with an income of €58,000 adjusting its budget by €1,200. Thinking of it in that context, one realises it will not shake the world and any adjustments will be quite modest. I welcome the 3:1 split in favour of expenditure. It is clear to anybody at the moment that there is an absolute crisis in health. Even with simple issues, I have never seen it as bad as it is. Of course, we know the position with housing. Ultimately, there is only one solution for the housing crisis and that is to build more houses.

We are living in a very uncertain world and the Minister of State spoke about one such uncertainty, that is, the biggest fallout of Brexit so far has been the currency fluctuation and the challenge for our exporters into Britain. Some have been more affected than others. Brexit in itself is a large uncertainty and it is important that we take a strong stand so that Europe should not try to take some revenge on Britain because it has been perceived as being naughty or that another country might follow it. Even if it causes collateral damage to Europe or particularly to Ireland, there may be attempts to raise tariffs because some people are not happy with Britain's decision. That would have major consequences within this nation and island, and it would have significant consequences on our trade with Britain.

There are also other challenges, such as if Britain opens a market for beef from South America and so on. That would also pose problems. We must recognise in this country that world markets are very important. For many industries, particularly indigenous industries, the handiest big market is the neighbouring market because it is physically nearest and easiest for us to deal with. As there are 60 million people on the island of Britain, we must continue to recognise that no matter how much we develop trade around the world, the British market is inevitably still going to be a major market for us and particularly for our food.

Allowing that we do not have much time, there are some comments I wish to make. I welcome some of the changes introduced in social welfare. For example, I welcome the reversal of some of the very bad decisions made by the previous Government, such as those relating to lone parents. I note the back-to-education measure has been restored. I also recognise that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, listened to what people like me have been saying and restored the disregards for the farm assist scheme. I regret that this does not apply to all self-employed people and it seems absolutely farcical to means-test anybody at 100%. That is the equivalent of a 100% tax on endeavour for smaller people. From the very first day I stepped into Connemara, it seemed absolutely farcical to take €1 away for every €1 earned by self-employed people who need some social welfare. One would never think of doing that with family income supplement. I welcome this measure as a step in the right direction.

I also welcome the extra places on the rural social scheme. I have a question put down on when the changes will be implemented, if they are means assessed and if the schemes will be automatically recalibrated. We always seem to think the micro will work in rural Ireland when we, quite rightly, recognise that the macro is needed in cities. There are 3.5 million people living outside the greater Dublin area and there seems to be an idea that €8 million here or €2 million there will solve their problem, which is totally unrealistic. I notice that, quite rightly, in Dublin there will be three brand new hospitals, the new DART underground and metro north. These projects run to billions of euro. As I have said, I have nothing against them. I come from the city and realise the major transport problems here. Sauce for the goose, however, is sauce for the gander. It is absolutely time that people realise rural Ireland needs significant investment in infrastructure if we are going to compete. I am absolutely disgusted at the lack of investment, even in something as fundamental as fibre broadband.

Ar deireadh, tá airgead na Gaeilge gearrtha go dtí an dúid. Caithfidh mé a rá gur náireach an scéal é sin. Gealladh i gclár an Rialtais go mbeadh airgead breise don Ghaeilge, ach a mhalairt ar fad atá tarlaithe. Beidh mé ag caint leis an Aire agus ag ardú na ceiste seo nuair a bheidh deis agam.

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