Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is great to hear the great spirit among the young people this morning. They are very welcome. Not alone is the good weather here and they are in Seanad Éireann but the holidays are coming soon as well. All of us here wish that they enjoy themselves.

I will start this morning by referring to the number of motorcycle accidents occurring in this country. Sadly, overnight two people were killed on motorcycles. The number of people who have been killed since the beginning of the year is substantially up on last year. I stand to be corrected but it is close to double figures already. It is affecting all parts of the country – west, east, north and south. Maybe we should have a discussion on road safety with the relevant Minister about how we can move forward and have a safer aspect to all motorcycle activity. It is highly regrettable and we extend our sympathies to those families who are suffering this great loss.

Second, I refer to budgets. All of us here, as Oireachtas Members, are now being lobbied and we have to attend sessions all over the place from the various groups, including the charity groups, the teachers' organisations and the farming organisations. However, we cannot put our budgets together through opinion pieces. Everybody's contribution has to be listened to, including the submissions and representations that are made to the Oireachtas people. I know the Government is anxious to work together on this. That is extremely important that when we talk about the upcoming budget. There are challenges there because we know there are people for whom it is very difficult with the cost of living and the Ministers for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and Finance are both working to ensure those people are well catered for. People on low to middle incomes are suffering cost-of-living problems as well. I urge that the Government work together and work in unison. I think most Members would agree with me, on whatever side. We cannot do this type of negotiation through opinion pieces. We have to be more respectful of the electorate. I certainly take my role seriously and I know that my colleagues, whatever side of the House they are on, have that respectful attitude towards this.

We just cannot promise people this, that and the other and then not deliver it. The figures have to be done and have to be worked out. We are in the fortunate situation where the balance of payments looks well and where the taxes, particularly the corporation taxes, are looking very healthy over the coming years. That does not mean we do not have challenges. That does not mean there are not people being left behind. All of us, whether we are in government or in opposition, want to ensure that when those moneys are distributed in the budget, they are distributed fairly. Equality is the most important thing. I do not know if we can have a discussion on this but it is my wish and the wish of most of my colleagues that we not go around promising things willy-nilly and then not being able to honour those commitments and promises.