Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. There is nobody bragging and there is no need to drag down the tone of the political debate on what is a very important issue which affects ordinary people and businesses all over the country. I can legitimately make the point about following Deputy McDonald's advice and spending €3.5 billion more in the budget last year on expenditure and spending more every time we made an intervention earlier this year when she said it only scratched the surface. Anyone looking at the Deputy's website will see all of the promises and commitments that her party is making which add up to billions of euro - those press releases that have not yet been deleted from her party's website. I can legitimately make the case that we have the resources to do more as a Government because the public finances are in a reasonably strong position.

We have already made interventions. I have given a commitment that we are prepared to go further. It is our assessment that the best time to do this is in the autumn. If we come to the House with a package now, the Deputy would first say it was not enough and then it would mean we would have less money to make a difference in the autumn when we think people will need it most. We understand the pressures people are facing. The Government is committed to a budget that is focused on the cost of living as well as measures in the autumn that will have as close to an immediate impact as we can practically deliver.

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