Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have the advantage of having had a chance to reflect on, read and re-read the budget and to read the Minister's Budget Statement, which seems to be 20 pages in length but is actually 22 pages. The error in pagination perhaps symbolises the weakness of the figures contained in those 22 pages in terms of making for a fairer country.

One could not but welcome the social welfare and education additions or the money given to housing and health. While one might look at these and decide not to be negative, given that these are good measures and people will have more money in their pockets, one can only stay with that analysis if one views the budget in isolation. The key to understanding the budget lies on page 132, though, on which we see that the strategic communications unit is being given €5 million. It was supposed to be cost-neutral. Significantly, and if the Minister of State might listen-----

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