Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome today's spring statement by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. Last week, representatives from Comhairle na nÓg and Young Social Innovators visited the Houses and the students who won the Young Scientist of the Year award for 2015 made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Health and Children. These ambitious young people are risk takers and innovators. They are the future of this country. The proportion of the population comprising young people is growing. We must ensure that they will be able to remain, work and grow old in this country. The Government is trying to engage in careful and balanced planning in respect of spending and investment and that is what the spring statement involves. The statement is a welcome way of dealing with this and other matters and of ensuring that there is no need to rush about making budgetary decisions at the last minute, as was the case prior to our entering office.Senator Daly has been critical of the spring statement. He should go to his nearest town, Killarney, and talk to people involved in the tourism industry. Every one of them will say there has been a significant change over the past three or four years in the numbers visiting and in the growth and development of businesses because the correct policies have been put in place to encourage foreigners to visit the country and to encourage Irish people to stay there as well. It is important that we are positive about what is happening in the country and that people who visit the country see that we are working to deal with the issues we had to deal with when we came into government.