Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Senator Pearse Doherty.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá ár dtír i mbaol dul siar go dtí dorchadas na n-ochtóidí. Is é pobal na tíre a bheidh ag fulaingt go mór de bharr na cáinfhaisnéise inné. Is iad na seandaoine a chaill a gcártaí leighis, na feirmeoirí nach mbeidh in ann a mhuintir a mhealladh chun fanacht ar an bhfeirm, na páistí scoile a bheidh orthu díol as a gcuid taistil an fhad agus a bheidh siad i ranganna plódaithe ar fad a bheidh thíos leis. Ní fheicim aon dóchas do mhuintir na tíre sa mhéid atá beartaithe ag an Rialtas anseo. Ag an am seo séard atá i ndán do na daoine ná dífhostaíocht agus an imirce.

The Minister of State came to this House with the reality behind and in front of him that he and the Government have hit the ordinary people of Ireland, in a budget where the people have been once again asked to bail out him and his colleagues. Any critique or analysis of this budget can only paint one picture. It contains savage cuts, regressive taxation and taxes the elderly and those on low incomes. It is socially unjust. Above all, the legacy and the imprint Fianna Fáil has left today in the homes of Ireland are that the poor, the vulnerable and the middle income earners have been left on their own. Fianna Fáil has turned its backs on them. The untruths of the general election have come home to roost and now the fraud it has perpetrated has been exposed.

The Minister of State's Government has not looked after the vulnerable members of society. They have been let down. This is a savage budget with savage cuts which hurt people and will make the recession deeper. Senator Callely spoke on economic affairs outside our control, but this budget, in the current economic situation, is a missed opportunity. Senator Harris spoke of public service reform but there is none. There is no innovation or new ideas. The Government had an opportunity to end decentralisation and it funked it.

The cuts to be imposed mean less money and fewer services. The Government has taxed the people. Members of the Government cannot mention Ernest Blythe, or John Bruton and children's footwear and clothing. The Government has done much worse. Today's edition of the Irish Examiner refers to patriotism and this is the headline.