Seanad debates

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

11:10 am

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been some comment on the budget and we shall know what it contains in the next four or five hours. I join with Members in saying that I hope that it will be underpinned by a couple of essential pillars. First, the element of fairness which was mentioned by a number of Senators on both sides of the House. I hope that the budget will reflect that the overloading of the workhorse has got to the stage now where working people, particularly in the private sector and small businesses, are finding it almost impossible to survive. There must be some respite for them in the budget.

I wish to comment on some of the leaks about the budget. It is a pity that certain areas that account for 80% of the expenditure has more or less been ring-fenced for protection. It is impossible for us to deal with our very severe problems if we ring-fence 80% of expenditure yet try to resolve the fiscal issues with just 20%. I thought that the Labour Party's requirement that people earning over ¤100,000 would pay extra tax, either through the PAYE system or through the universal service charge, was eminently sensible. It was also a central plank in the Fianna Fáil policy. Not too many politicians would stand up and say the following for fear of being unpopular. I thought that the suggestion made by Fine Gael of a 3% cut across all of the rates of social welfare was eminently sensible as it would be a small adjustment for people. I fear that the budget will impose major adjustments on some people who will not be able to survive them. That is my real concern.

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