Aideen Hayden (Labour)

Does Senator Cullinane honestly believe Members on this side of the House want to increase VAT? The issue is clear. We have to save a certain amount of money. The Senator acknowledged that we are spending more than we earn. Senator Reilly forgot to mention that we retained the lower rate of VAT on food and children's clothing. She picked several issues but she neglected to mention the critical ones. We are aware of what is happening in the wider world but this week alone it was reported that the eurozone is officially back in recession and retail figures in the UK show a marked decline.