Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's weekend announcement that he will bring into law a decision of the people in the 1970s. I hate to disagree with my colleagues on the other side of the House but this is significant reform because it is the only reform since 1937. If it comes to pass, it will be a major step in the right direction. Of course we would all like to see a lot more reform but let us take it incrementally, step by step. At least we now know this House will survive, which we did not know some weeks ago. Let us approach reform in the right way and in consultation with the various stakeholders, particularly the people.

Today is a good day. It is unlikely to be as dramatic as the previous two budgets since I became a Member of this House. It will be a lot more steady. My only concern relates to the matter of universal payments, which I think we need to move away from. The idea of giving something to everybody under a particular age is not in my view going in the right direction or the direction in which I would like to see it go. We must target our resources at those who need them most. While it may be difficult to police and implement that approach, there are means by which it could be done. I have long advocated that the budget process should be the summing up of a period of lengthy consultation within Parliament. I credit the Leader for facilitating significant debates in the lead up to the budget this year and last year. However, we need a more formalised structure which would involve both Houses whereby each proposed change would be debated and the Minister's Budget Statement would effectively be a summary of the decisions of the finance committee and Members of the Dáil and Seanad. That seems to be what happens in other European countries and I would like to see it happen here.

I sincerely hope this political reform is included in the next programme for Government and is thereafter pursued, developed and implemented.