Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

As agriculture spokesperson, I welcome what is a creative proposal in this budget that reflects the desires among the farming community and those in agriculture to support younger farmers. Many criticisms have been expressed in the House of many aspects of the budget and one I have observed is that there is nothing creative in this budget but one knows that is not the case when one sits down with people in farming communities and observes the community, as this Minister has done. He has listened carefully and understood that young farmers need to be supported in more creative ways, and one can see that he has sought ways in which to do that.

I welcome the modifying of the retirement relief for capital gains tax to encourage transfer of farms, the enhanced 50% stock relief for all registered farm partnerships, and the 100% stock relief for young farmers who are trained and who will form partnerships. Those measures are not the whole of all the answers this sector needs but they are welcome. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, came into the House on a number of occasions and I believe he is genuinely committed to the future of farming and agriculture, and the food industry. That is evidenced in this budget.

I welcome the commitment today on the part of the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to The Gathering and funding for that event. It is the type of idea that sometimes comes about on the back of an envelope or at a meeting and then disappears in the fog of enthusiasm without action being taken. For him to commit in the budget to the funding for that will be welcomed on many levels. It is not just about tourism, generating beds and bums on seats, if the Members will excuse the expression. It is about generating a recognition of our culture, arts and all the areas in which we excel. It will bring about a regeneration and a connection with people in the communities to come together to take part in a year long series of activities that will assist businesses in an unprecedented and creative way. People continue to criticise that is lacking in this Government but I do not believe so.

I welcome also the changes in the universal social charge. It is a small change but it is significant. It was in the programme for Government and is something for which the Labour Party stood. Many of us were told by people on the doorsteps that the universal social charge was too harsh, something which the Opposition has acknowledged. This measure is a rectifying of that harshness.

Regarding the back to school clothing allowance, I understand the Minister for Social Protection will continue to try to bring about improvements to the way in which the back to school clothing allowance will be applied into the future with many other creative ways being used in terms of direct payments. There are many measures in this budget that we will see built upon in the next year, and I believe the Minister will proceed to do that.

Along with others I, too, am very concerned about the potential changes in the disability payments, particularly for those people who are profoundly disabled. Many of us will engage in conversation with the Minister and this Government to seek change to this measure because it is clear it is something that is difficult to understand and accept.