Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The country needs stability at this time. Few people thought Fianna Fáil would support a three-year term under a Government led by Fine Gael. I spoke many times to various Deputies and Ministers who said the plug would be pulled, but we have got three budgets through and are now debating the fourth.As Senator Ó Ríordáin pointed out on the Order of Business earlier, what is happening in other countries makes us look, by and large, far more stable. That may all be relative but the Government has introduced its fourth budget and many people did not think it would still be in office to do that. A no-deal Brexit is a major problem. It is looking more and more likely with every passing day and hour. This is the final budget before the people are given an opportunity to elect a new Government. Over the previous four budgets we have achieved reductions in the universal social charge, the extension of mortgage interest relief, increases in social welfare payments, reduced class sizes, increased funding for mental health and an increase in the number of gardaí, among many other things. If given the opportunity to serve in government we would continue to work hard to achieve so much more. I thank the Minister of State again for being here today.