Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

When the three-year programme has concluded they no longer will be because they will be at the same level as the non-contributory pensioner.

There was a lot of good today. It was an appropriate budget, relevant to the challenges facing us for the year ahead. There is no point in one batch of Senators speaking of all the extra things on which the money should be spent and another batch speaking of cutbacks, cutting the public service, value for money etc. It is very difficult to see a consistent view. The one person who must try to match the different challenges and demands together is the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance and he has done a damn good job.