John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Senator O'Toole and others will know statements on the budget in this House are of relatively recent origin. It has become the practice to use Private Members' time to debate the budget, which is the main issue of the day. The motion was tabled as a courtesy to the House in an attempt to facilitate it to discuss this matter. The Minister of State has acknowledged that.

Opposition is a mighty comfortable place to be because one can bash everything and kick the furniture without having to say what one will do. As far as I can recall what was contained in the main Opposition party's manifesto is not markedly different from what was in the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats manifestos and it is what was delivered in the budget. Therefore, it is in accordance with what they were saying. Pointing the finger in one direction is not a particularly beneficial exercise.

I note Senator Bannon described the Minister, Deputy McCreevy, as the slasher. That is a word of Longford origin. Perhaps we can add to the political lexicon the Basher Bannon, as well as the McCreevy Slasher and the Longford Slasher. With a little encouragement that could be included in the political dictionary.

Despite a setback, the economy will grow significantly over several years on the basis of the Minister's predictions. Germany is predicting a growth rate of 5% this year and 1% next year. It is essential that all the benefits that accrue from that level of growth are retained, that the economy is managed prudently and well, otherwise the soft landing being managed and created will be a figment of the imagination and we ain't seen nothing yet. From that point of view what my county colleague, the Minister, Deputy McCreevy, has done is to be applauded and the House should support it.

It is remarkable that the Labour Party could table an amendment before the budget was discussed. Those on the Government side would get into very severe difficulties if they breathed what was in the budget. One can recall a Fine Gael Minister of State losing his post for a relatively minor indiscretion but the Labour Party knows what is in the budget beforehand so it can table an amendment.