Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit.

Senator Dolan's analogy of the high seas is one that we should keep in mind. In welcoming this debate on the summer economic statement, it is now hackneyed, but so true, that Brexit forms the backdrop to this debate but also provides the uncertainty. That means, and I welcome Senator Dolan's remarks, there must be a measured approach. We must be honest in how we approach the budget, whether there is an orderly or a disorderly Brexit, in October. That honesty means that we as politicians cannot be all things to all people. If one were to add up the promises of the Fianna Fáil Party in 2018, which amount to €3.8 billion, and the amounts the Sinn Féin Party has promised, the reality is we would be back to the days of a decade ago where we had 15% unemployment, we could not get money and we were in an economic bailout. I was in a party of Government that made decisions to rescue, with the people, our country. We took decisions that were in the interests of the people about whom Senator Dolan speaks. They are the people we are trying to work for and with. I perish the thought of returning to those days because I can assure Members that many of us have the emotional and mental scars of that time, of being a backbench member of that party in government.

I challenge Members to come in here and have a debate about the integrity of budgetary proposals, and to be honest. We can adopt the tax, spend and promise everything approach, but where would it get us? We know where it got us. Now we have a budget surplus. Unemployment is at 4.5%, down from the 15%. Following the decade we have come from, there must be a genuine adherence to the fiscal rules and to the remarks of the fiscal advisory council, the ESRI and others. I would make the point that the commentary in some cases is lazy and populist. Now is not the time to turn our country back into a casino and play with the money, which is the taxpayers' money and money we have to borrow. Our economy is not a casino. The house always win, but in our case the house is not Government; it is beyond our shores.

Now is the time for sound budgetary operations where we invest, as Senator Dolan rightly said, in public services and where we can benefit those who are most in need, whether it is the carer, the person with a disability or those who need respite care. In this context, disability must be an important part of the budget we frame in October. We have €2.8 billion of a budgetary proposal and €0.7 billion to spend. It is about balancing the budget. It is about being honest and ensuring right is done for the people and the economy.

However, what happens if there is a no-deal Brexit? We cannot merely walk away from that right now. It is neither rhetoric nor an academic exercise for a PhD dissertation. It is a real fact of life. That is why we have two budgetary stories today with us.

Members mentioned the challenges. We face challenges such as housing, climate action, transport and improving our carbon footprint. We are spending €2.4 billion on housing. We are spending more than €16.8 billion on health and yet today we have people on strike who deserve to be given recompense and recognised for the work they do. How can we balance the budget and be all things to all people? The answer is that one cannot. The answer to that question is that we must be prudent while at the same time recognising that an ghnáth duine - the ordinary person - is important.