Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Howlin, who quoted Tom Johnson, and I recognise the anniversary today to which he referred. The Deputy spoke about people benefiting from the fruits of society.

That is precisely the approach the Government took in the budget. We passed a prudent budget. The ESRI recognised that those earning the least benefited the most. There are now 2 million people at work and it is Labour Party policy to ensure people have access to jobs, a job being the best way out of poverty. It improves people's standard of living and it gives us the resources to invest in services we need for the fair society to which the Deputy referred.

Access to services is part of creating a fair society. The Low Pay Commission was independent during the Deputy's time in Government and it remains independent. The programme for partnership Government sets out detailed actions and commitments which will be implemented over the lifetime of the Government and has one simple objective at its core, namely, to make people's lives better in every part of Ireland and ensure the recovery reaches out to every family and region. We are taking every action we can to build the strong economy that will enable us to deliver the fair society about which the Deputy spoke.

The progress report which we published some weeks ago sets out some of the progress made to date. I recognise that there is more work to be done and, as resources permit, the issues outlined by the Deputy will continue to receive attention. I ask the Deputy to acknowledge that it was a fair and prudent budget that continues our road to economic recovery and allows us to give direct support to individuals who need most. It also creates the conditions that ensure people have access to work and we can invest in services.

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