David Norris (Independent)

That is the way people make their feelings felt on the doorstep and if the Government responded, I am not complaining. I would complain more if it did not respond.

It was significant that Fr. Seán Healy was involved in the discussions. In an article in The Irish Times recently he wrote that all the hoopla surrounding the budget each years tends to obscure the most important fact that decisions are underpinned by a vision of a future Ireland. Towards the end of the article he wrote that the vision of the future that should guide Government budget decisions this year should be one where Ireland's infrastructure and social provision deficits are addressed. I think they were, very largely. However, there was an absence of any clear specific reference to child care. I could not find it — even on page B10, C10 or E10. I do not think it is there.

More significantly, there was a regrettable failure to put in a budget envelope to protect the clear unambiguous statement in the major international forum of the United Nations that Ireland's overseas aid contribution would reach 0.7% of GNP in the next two years. That is a shame. With the money we have we could and should have done that. It is a reproach that such a provision was not contained in this budget.

I am not particularly partisan on this issue. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs which unanimously made that point. The Chairman, who is not notable for his antagonism to the Government or for his desire to ruffle Government feathers, actively supported that point. I regret that it was not possible to make this provision.

In an attempt to be helpful I will make a suggestion. Regarding motor vehicle taxation, why do we not follow the French example and abolish all tax on motor vehicles? That would be popular with the people. One could balance it by increasing the tax on petrol. That would directly target the gas guzzlers, the SUVs. It would be environmentally friendly and very much the right thing to do.

With those two mild reservations, I welcome the budget. We see the Government moving in a healthy, humane, decent and civilised direction and I welcome that.