Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Keane and Hayden referred to Traveller accommodation. I also note Senator Hayden's point on rent certainty and her call for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Kelly, on that matter.

Senator Cullinane also called for a debate on housing. He spoke about people with higher incomes getting a greater benefit from the budget, but he did not mention that we have now taken more than 700,000 people on low incomes out of the universal social charge net. The Government's aim is to get people back to work and assist them in that regard. That is the best policy to take and one in which we are beginning to succeed. Some 125,000 extra jobs have been created since the Government took office.

Senator Mullins welcomed many provisions of the budget, especially those dealing with the self-employed, including the farming community and road haulage contractors. It was costing over €5,000 to tax a truck here compared to €900 in the UK, but that matter has now been rectified by the Minister for Finance.