The Minister, Deputy McCreevy, has been consistent. The budget protects the gains already made and caters for those who are most disadvantaged. Failure to do the latter was a criticism of previous budgets. I do not believe that such criticism was legitimate. If one examines matters dispassionately and carefully, one will see that the most disadvantaged have been catered for, particularly in terms of child benefit and other social welfare increases. It is a significant achievement to grant across the board increases which are of the order of twice the level of inflation. Such increases constitute real and positive benefits for those who are disadvantaged. I will not catalogue the various measures involved, but I must highlight the increase of €10 per week in old age and related pensions and also the increases in children's allowance, widow's contributory pension, deserted wives benefit, etc. These are measures of which the Government can be proud.