Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Flaherty. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, opened his budget speech yesterday by saying "The backdrop for budget 2021 is a truly remarkable one", and never was a truer word spoken. When the budget last year was presented, it had been developed by the then Government in the shadow of Brexit. It was described as a "Brexit budget". Now, 12 months later, while we continue to prepare for Brexit and the enormous shift and change it will bring to our island, we also must face the ongoing consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The figures continue to get massively worse, particularly in my county of Meath. I will speak briefly to that before finishing.

We are living in unprecedented times but I have no doubt that the budget introduced yesterday will support our citizens and economy in meeting these challenges. It will protect lives and livelihoods and I am incredibly proud to be part of the Government putting forward this budget. I know it is the job of the Opposition to oppose but it is particularly difficult to oppose the budget this year when the Government is throwing everything possible at this in a financial sense in order to give the entire economy and population a lift and try to keep the country on an even keel while getting back employment and business. Once taxes are being generated, we can provide the social services that we all support and promote in this House.

In 78 days, Britain will cease to be part of the EU's Single Market and customs union. Deal or no deal, there are major changes ahead of us because of Brexit from 1 January. The recovery fund being established by the Government of €3.4 billion will be crucial in helping to combat the economic impact of this on the lives of many citizens. Additionally, approximately €340 million of voted expenditure will be spent on Brexit supports next year, including an additional allocation for compliance expenditure in 2021 to finalise work at our ports and airports. I am glad to see much of that work ongoing or finished. There is also provision for an additional 500 staff to bring the total provision to approximately 1,500 people working for us and doing operational checks. It is incredible to see the facilities in Dublin Port that have been replicated at Rosslare to meet the requirements for facilities in advance of Brexit, even if a trade deal is agreed in the next few weeks.

This funding will be supported by the Brexit adjustment fund and I pay tribute to the Taoiseach on his work during the summer to ensure this was established and Ireland was able to get this into the multi-annual financial framework. Ireland will seek to avail of these funds in the coming years given the disproportionate impact of Brexit on us. I also welcome the allocation of €500 million to a shared island capital fund. This will deliver critical cross-Border infrastructure, which will allow us to realise the full potential of our island on both sides of the Border. My constituency of Meath East has the Dublin-Derry road going through it and I have no doubt that it will benefit. The A5 in the North of Ireland will link to Dublin and give an economic lift that the north west of this country particularly needs. It will have other benefits around the country.

On education, I was interested to hear the Social Democrats criticise the pupil-teacher ratio, which we have brought to another record low. I am really proud to be part of a Government doing that. In my former role as an education spokesperson I argued very strongly about this. The ratio is now at a record low, and while the Social Democrats manifesto during the election called for a steady reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio, it is exactly what the Government is doing. I am surprised the Social Democrats have not welcomed this as being exactly in accordance with their policy. It will make a significant difference in classrooms up and down the country, which is fantastic.

I welcome the supports for hospitality, tourism and the arts, as well as housing. We are all tired of living with Covid-19 and hearing about Brexit. Unfortunately, these are real matters with which we must live for some time. The budget does as much as possible to support us in the period ahead and there is no doubt there will be brighter days.

I have seen the figures for today, including 185 new cases in my county of Meath. Unfortunately, there was an article in a newspaper at the weekend about my local electoral area having some of the lowest incidence of the virus in the country. It was possibly too good to be true but I also know how quickly the position can change. I appeal to the people in Meath to restrict their meeting of other people and keep their social distance. They should comply with all the advice. I am conscious there will be many televised GAA matches this weekend and I have heard anecdotal evidence that some people are planning to have people to their house to watch these matches. I appeal to people not to do it this weekend. We are all starved of football, attending gatherings and that bit of fun, craic and enjoyment. I know Dublin is playing Meath at the weekend but please do not go to somebody else's house to watch the match. I make that strong appeal to my constituents and the whole country as well.

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