Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

As someone who, as the Minister said, worked in another capacity in Fianna Fáil, I enjoyed the visit down memory lane. It is one of the progressive measures in which I share a collective pride. I remember that during the general election campaign in 1997 the then Labour leader, Mr. Dick Spring, was dubious about the proposition, as the Labour Party was about social partnership ten years previously. Without giving too much of a party political broadcast, there have been many occasions when such progressive and radical measures – I add tax credits to that in the middle of the last Administration – have put us at the cutting edge of progress.

Those involved in Sustaining Progress are not just the Government, but the trade unions and many who belong to the community and voluntary sector. Sustaining Progress states that to the extent that there is any scope for personal tax reduction, progress will continue to be made over the three budgets contained within the lifetime of this agreement towards removing those on the minimum wage from the tax net and also the 80%. That is a realistic recognition of the sums the Minister mentioned. It could not have been done before this agreement was negotiated. It is probably unrealistic to expect it to be done in one attempt in the future.