Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

He has always asked us to ensure that higher earners pay more. That is what we did in this budget.

The budget is prudent and responsible and is designed to help low and middle-income families, with an emphasis on returning people to work. I welcome the €1.1 billion to be spent on employment supports in 2015. Currently, 1.92 million people are at work, an increase of 80,000 since 2012. Some 48,000 jobs are projected to be added to that figure by the end of 2015. Returning more people to work is key to ensuring that scarce resources are freed up to help the more vulnerable in society.

A number of the budget's provisions have not received much publicity but are to be welcomed, for example, the €10 million allocated for new Garda vehicles, which are badly needed to tackle rural crime. I refer in particular to burglars coming to rural Ireland in high-powered vehicles.

I agree somewhat with Senator Norris, but €600 million has been allocated in the budget for overseas development aid. This level of funding will enable Ireland to play a pivotal role in addressing the world's many humanitarian crises. I wish that other countries, many of which are richer than ours, honoured the commitments they gave at various forums and conferences. Ireland is the one country that honours every commitment it makes in respect of overseas humanitarian aid.

I welcome the additional €1 million for new projects and initiatives as regards the diaspora. I am rather surprised that Senator Daly, who is always concerned about the diaspora, did not welcome this provision, which increased funding to €12.5 million.