Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with most of what the Deputy just said. Of course, we have to reach out to people who are not benefiting from a growing and expanding economy. Many people in society are under pressure. We know that with respect to housing in particular, which is why we have a hugely ambitious housing plan and social housing financial commitment. Therefore, there is work to do. I am not saying there are not people who need the intervention and help of the State. That is why we have the Low Pay Commission, have acted on its recommendations in the past and will act on its recommendations in the future. However, what we want to do is to create a society as well as an economy that allows people to get a decent wage for a day's work. That is what we have been trying to do during the past seven years, namely, rebuilding an economy and a society from the shocks of very poor political decision-making and bad policy that preceded that. We have come a long way in doing that and we hope to continue to do it for the next number of years.

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