Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

This is a budget of investment in our future. It is about promoting and protecting the environment. It introduces measures which do not penalise people for supporting the environment but incentivises them to realise their responsibilities for the future. This planet is not just for us and the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and other parties of today but for our children and their children. In that context I welcome the package of reforms in VRT and the innovations in the BES scheme. These not only establish incentives in terms of carbons and vehicle taxation but also incentivise the business community by encouraging entrepreneurs to come up with measures and innovations that will help us to protect the environment from the many threats it faces.

The level of expenditure and investment in the capital programme is still unprecedented in historical terms. As a Member from the west, I welcome the fact that the first stage of the western rail corridor will be completed and I look forward to when, as is Government policy——