Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and I am glad to have the opportunity to make a few points.

I have no intention of getting involved in the political scenario. As for what Fianna Fáil did when in government, in the immortal words of a very distinguished former Leader of the House, "that was then and this is now." The people adjudicated on that performance and we lost 58 seats. We must, therefore, comment on what is happening in the here and now. AS I was not made Minister for Finance, I can say whatever I like about the budget and it is perfectly credible, given that I was elected to the House.

I have met the troika. I do know if many Labour Party Senators accompany the Minister's delegations to the troika, but I have accompanied ours. On many occasions the troika has made it crystal clear that where the money is found is irrelevant, provided the bottom line is the same, savings are made and we achieve what is desired to be achieved. That is a fact. If it is not, when the Minister next goes to see the troika, I will accompany her at her invitation and I am sure others would like to come, too. I agree that we should meet them collectively.

As much of the ground has been covered, I will focus on one point. There were and are options. Those earning over ¤100,000 a year - the Members of these Houses are decidedly middle class and will know many of the people to whom I refer - were conditioned and expected to be hit by paying an extra 3% through the universal social charge. For six months it was the single item leaked most and it met with least resistance. I do not know what goes on in negotiations in the Cabinet room and who was sticking up for those would have been affected, but that increase of 3% would have brought in ¤200 million, which means there would have been ¤174 million left after putting the respite care grant back in place which could have gone towards child care sevices.

Who are we hitting? There are other potential levies, for example, on off-sales of drink or products with a high sugar and fat content. There could have been further reductions in the pensions area to cover other items. Therefore, there were options. The IMF has stated in recent days in the context of the next budget that we have cut enough. In the absence of growth in the 1980s, when there were tough budgets, we were able to offset some of the pain against the fact that there was a buoyant global economy. However, that is not the case now and we are hitting the most vulnerable, including those in mortgage arrears.

This is an opportunity to kick the Bill back to the Dáil. I believe that is the will of the people. The will of the people on this issue is to say have another look at this. Here are genuine options in the interests of the people. It is not a question of being disloyal to Fianna Fáil, Labour or anyone else. It is a question of showing that this House is representative of the people.

This is an opportunity to kick the Bill back to the Dáil, which is the will of the people. It is their will that we take another look at this issue, as there are genuine options. It is not a question of being disloyal to Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party or anyone else. It is a question of showing that this House is representative of the people.