Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The Acting Chairman might indicate when I have one minute left.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to the House to discuss the summer economic statement. I note the importance of maintaining a broad tax base which generates sustainable revenue streams necessary to fund public services. It is important to remember that we live in a society and not in an economy. That is a much bandied around expression but it is an important point to make, particularly as we are heading into a budget and discussing services.

The Minister of State noted that the Government has decided to be prudent regarding the management of our public finances, which is the appropriate approach to take. While there are risks ahead, there are also opportunities, as the Minister of State also pointed out. We have to acknowledge that our economy is improving and that we have virtually full employment. There are certain categories and areas where we do not have full employment and we need to address those. In particular, I am thinking of people with disabilities who do not have equal access to employment opportunities.

As I said, prudent financial decisions must be pursued. We must remember that we have to secure the hard-won gains achieved as a result of the many sacrifices made by the people, and not by politicians or banks or financial institutions. The people made many hard decisions over many years, which is something of which we have to be mindful at all times.

I understand the Government's intention to reduce the public debt, which is particularly welcome. The objective of improving living standards and public services is welcome. The economic recovery is not solely about money in our pockets. It has to be about public services. I heard Senator Conway talking about the rainy day fund the other day. I am not going to leave a jar of money on the counter if I have a commitment or a debt, a medical bill or rent to pay. I have concerns about the rainy day fund. It is all very well when one has loads of money but we have people who have disabilities. We have institutions like the National Rehabilitation Hospital where six beds have been closed since 2017 and Minister after Minister have come in here and argued that there is not the resources or the money to open them. One cannot have rainy day money in a jar when one cannot provide basic services.

This Government will be judged on education, health and housing. These are three of the biggest issues and, as he knows well, I am not here to lecture the Minister of State. I want to flag a dedicated fund to reduce our hospital waiting lists because it is important. We need to invest in primary and community care, recruit more consultant doctors, midwives and therapists, provide faster access to mental health, reopen all rehabilitation hospital beds, dismantle the dysfunctional HSE, establish funds for community welfare and develop community welfare trusts. Many of these requirements are not mine but are those of the Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar. They are on Fine Gael's website, which I looked at today. That is Fine Gael policy on Fine Gael's website. They were put forward by our Taoiseach, who I have a lot of time for and who I respect, when he was Minister for Health. Perhaps the Minister of State and the Fine Gael Members might look at them.

Can the Minister of State tell me, not necessarily today, where the plan on universal healthcare is because the nation wants to know? It is all over the Fine Gael election literature, which I have. There is a promise by Fine Gael that it will deliver on a universal healthcare plan.

I looked up Google today and saw wonderful photographs Fine Gael Ministers at a train station with a big banner saying Fine Gael would abolish the USC. Has all of that changed? What is the story in the run up to the budget? We can talk all we like about a rainy day fund but we must address housing, health, education and infrastructure. We must bring into use State lands which are not being utilised and are not being built on because we have thousands of people waiting for houses.

Yesterday the Oireachtas disability group launched its budget submission. It is really good and I acknowledge what Senator Dolan has done. I ask everyone to look at it and to lobby the Government so that in the forthcoming budget, the key objectives set out in this infographic are considered and, hopefully, implemented.