Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House and wish them a happy Christmas and an equally successful new year.

The end of the year sees the public finances in excellent order, with economic growth of 7%, employment rising, economic activity buzzing and visible all around the country and the same prospects for next year.

Reference was made to inflation. I would point out that the average inflation for the year is likely to be under 4% as it also will be next year, and a close eye will be required to be kept on it.

I will make the opposite point to that made on the Order of Business this morning. By and large we get very good value for our public services. People who have not worked in the public service simply do not appreciate the amount of work done which is way beyond the minimum by many public servants and civil servants, and in many cases for no extra reward. The productivity is far higher than organisations like ISME and, dare I say it, sometimes the farming organisations are inclined to credit. This Bill is a piece of budgetary housekeeping. I support it and wish it a speedy passage.