Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House. I thank and congratulate him and the Government on the Bill and the budget and the hard work that went into their preparation. It is to the credit of the Government that the economy continues to perform so well and the success may well continue for another 12 years.

The Finance Bill is about real change and reform of the tax system. A recent ESRI report said this is one of the most progressive budgets for many years and that poor households will do better than rich households. That is a good line and is one I will remember when I am doing my rounds to show the success of the Government——