Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, as ucht seans a thabhairt dom freagra a thabhairt ar cheisteanna a d'ardaigh Seanadóirí le linn na díospóireachta.

I thank the House for its constructive engagement with the debate on the pre-budget outlook. The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance regrets he could not stay for the entire debate and he has asked me to make a closing statement on behalf of the Government.

As regards questions on tax rates, VRT, PRSI, even if the Minister for Finance were here, he would be restricted in what he could say, as he cannot pre-empt the Budget Statement. His officials have noted every issue that has been raised by way of question and those views will feed into the process, whether they related to the sugar beet workers, lower paid workers, the flat class size issues in education, language integration or the rail network. I would say to Senator Bradford that I also stood on the platform of Midleton train station and I look forward to the day when I can catch a train from there.