Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all know that Brexit poses a huge danger to our economy and our exports, particularly with the fall in the value of sterling. However, Sinn Féin has no plan in its budget to incentivise, encourage or support businesses in that context. Instead, the party is looking at the gains in the economy, the money available to spend and how to spend it. Sinn Féin would spend ten times more if it could and we would be back to square one. It is pure populism and there is no rhyme nor reason to it.

This is a sensible budget and I would not belittle any of its measures. There are a lot of demands for increases in expenditure but any such increases must be sustainable. We cannot make long-term public expenditure commitments based on capital taxes as we did in the past. We have issues in health, education and housing as well as those relating to Brexit and the list goes on. There are so many demands.

I very much welcome the announcements relating to social welfare payments, which will increase by €5. There has been a lot of grandstanding by Fianna Fáil about this but if that party had its way, we would not have seen those with disabilities, carers and other vulnerable groups who rely on social welfare getting their €5. Fianna Fáil was grandstanding on when the €5 increase would be introduced. There must be equality and fairness across the board and this budget recognises the need to give something back to people. Nobody here is claiming that this budget is the be all and end all. This is a process and we must stick with that process because we know there are difficulties ahead, Brexit being one.

I ask the Cathaoirleach to indulge me, given that I was -----