Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will not be opposing the Order of Business. While no one wants to pre-empt what is in the budget today, I think it shows scant regard for the Oireachtas and the Parliament when one considers the level of kite flying in the newspapers today and yesterday. Two editorials today seemed to predict authoritatively what will be read out at 2.30 p.m. and 3 p.m. today by the Ministers in the other House. I am sure the Leader would agree that the Members of both Houses require a little more respect as the people's representatives than that which has been rolled out today.

We will have the opportunity this afternoon to comment on what is actually in the budget. While one can appreciate, given that it is 1.10 p.m., that the budget has gone to the printers some time ago, I can only express the hope that the actual budget we hear is not as mean-spirited as has been suggested by the media.

No one envies the Ministers their task to try to save €2.4 billion, but all parties in opposition have made suggestions on how they would put forward an alternative budget in this regard. Some notable things jump out immediately, including the bereavement grant. Surely it cannot be true that such a callous development would take place in terms of a savage cut such as this. It was first introduced in 1999 to help people at their most vulnerable time, when a loved one has passed away, to deal with the significant costs of funerals, some €3,000 on average outside Dublin and €4,500 in Dublin. It was brought in 1999 at about €630. At that time it cost €25 billion to run the country every year. Today, it costs €52 billion or €53 billion to run the country every year and we want to scrap the €850 grant, which is the level it is at today. Surely our priorities are wrong if this is what we are trying to do.