Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement. Unlike him, I do not have 20 minutes for my contribution but I welcome the opportunity to speak and will try to cover as much as I can. The Minister of State concluded by recognising the positive engagement of the main Opposition party to the budgetary process. I will acknowledge that recognition by trying to be nice while making my points.

I met several journalists on my way to the Chamber who were talking about not putting the budget on the front page of the newspapers because there is not enough to say about it and because Brexit is again becoming the main story. We talked about the Dominic Cummings memo and other developments earlier.