Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What supports would they like to remove?

I am amused by why people believe it is necessary to leak the budget and what the purpose of that is, but we probably need a fundamental rethink about the budget process anyway. In the Bundestag in Germany, there is a full debate on the budget for a certain period and all parties and none, including finance committees and so on, get to put their proposals on the table, stress testing and debate take place, and the finance minister, having listened to and engaged, will ultimately give a summation. Essentially, Germany's budget process is an open one. Given the leaking that takes place in Ireland, I suggest that we rethink our process. As opposed to having post-budget debates, the process would involve the Government listening to and taking good ideas from everyone, including its own, talking to officials and economists and doing what was necessary to make the figures work. The Budget Statement would essentially be a summation of the process that had occurred in the months beforehand.

It is important that we note the key points and achievements in this budget. There is a significant recognition of the need to modernise and support childcare. There is a recognition that waiting lists in the health service are at an all-time high, primarily because of the pandemic. Some €200 million is being allocated to address that issue. There is a significant package of supports for disability services. There are measures in respect of fuel poverty and so on.