Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome this budget and the €1.3 billion that is available to spend. As a Member of the Oireachtas for the past six years, it was very clear to me that we had to make very tough decisions and cuts year after year as we tried to regain our economic and fiscal sovereignty. The decisions that had to be made were by no means popular. We have reversed that situation in a very short time and all of the stakeholders, particularly the people of Ireland who have gone on this journey with the Government, must acknowledge our success.

A lot of the comments so far have been meaningless, mean and pointless. One begins at the point where we have so much to spend. We only have that amount to spend because Government policies have been about creating wealth and stimulating the economy. Without the tax take and income to the Exchequer, we will not have money to spend on public services.

I note Sinn Féin's mantra that they have costed their alternative budget. They may have costed it but they are talking about imposing €1 billion of new taxes in an economy that is exposed to Brexit. How reasonable is that?