Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Before I answer that question, I too want to take an opportunity to welcome the developments in relation to the Middle East overnight. I welcome the announcement that Israel and Hamas have now agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire and a peace deal for Gaza. We are now at a critical moment where we all hope and pray that we can see an end to this brutal, horrific humanitarian catastrophe, an end to the bloodshed, the killing and the famine. I also hope all the hostages are released. It is a day of hope for the people of Gaza after the darkest of times. This morning I directed my own officials to prepare for a substantial contribution and effort to Gaza to assist in the humanitarian effort that is going to be required immediately. Right now, a consignment of 1,500 tents is being loaded by the International Organization for Migration, IOM, in Amman today for delivery into Gaza in the coming days, including indeed 750 tents from Ireland's humanitarian stocks. We will not be found wanting in doing more as well.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the budget and of course completely reject the way in which he framed the budget. What he does not tell the people at home is that his alternative plan proposed 23 new taxes at a cost of €3.3 billion. In terms of economic impact - not in my view but in the view of anybody who can understand economics - that would have increased inflation in this country by spending €4 billion more. What happens when you increase inflation? You increase everybody's cost of living. In Sinn Féin's economically illiterate way of assisting people with the cost of living, it actually would have hurt people with the cost of living. That is why, when we had a general election, people rejected Sinn Féin's economic philosophy.

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