Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last week, Senator Mark Daly, as leader of the Opposition and leader of Fianna Fáil, was looking for extra expenditure in many areas and at the same time accused the Government of borrowing to fund services. That is typical doublespeak from the other side of the House. As the Minister of State has pointed out, borrowing and the budget deficit were 12.5% of GDP when we took office. This year it will be down to 2.1% of GDP and we hope to attain budget surpluses by 2018.

The last few budgets have been hard but have made it possible for Ireland to exit the bailout, reduce our debts and move into real recovery which we see now. The top priority of this year's budget was to keep that recovery going while providing relief and better services for the people. It includes steps such as a cut to the universal social charge, more nurses and doctors for the health service, more affordable and quality child care and ending the unfair treatment of the self-employed. These are sensible and affordable steps that will keep the recovery going and bring its benefits to more households. The increased entry point for the universal social charge at €13,000 will bring to more than 700,000 the number of low earners who are exempted from the charge. The cuts in the lower universal social charge rates and bands will also help the lower earners and make work pay.

Tax cuts will encourage our emigrants to come home and are key to attracting foreign investment. Over five budgets the Government has restored our public finances without taxing jobs, a key election promise, and helping to create 125,000 jobs since An Action Plan for Jobs in 2012.

I turn to one positive point I saw in the budget in respect of the road haulage sector. As a person who worked in the shipping and transport sector, I welcome the significant changes in road tax for the road haulage sector.