John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today's debate has focused on the budget. I will follow on from a lot of the points made by Senator Ahearn. My points are on the basis of my visit this morning to the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce business breakfast. It is a successful event held on the morning after every budget. More than 250 people attended today from a whole variety of businesses in Dundalk to hear a presentation on the business aspects of the budget. This reminds me of how far this country has come in the past ten years in really building that strong economy. It is because we were able to build a strong economy over the past decade that we now see budgets like this.It really hits home when we see that the minimum wage has been increased for the tenth, if not the 11th, year in a row. It has gone from an all-time low of €7.60 in December 2010 to an all-time high of €12.70. It is important to acknowledge that the driving force of this country is the economic engine and the economic success story we have had, particularly in the past three or four years under the Government with regard to various issues such as Covid. It is very important to see such a strong business emphasis put on the budget. As Senator Ahearn said, it will back small and medium businesses and ensure our small country on the periphery of the European Continent continues to punch above its weight in attracting a level of business support and jobs into this country. Long may it continue. Perhaps at some stage we will be able to have a debate on the general state of the Irish economy and some of the measures the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister, Deputy Coveney are taking to continue to attract a large number of jobs into our country to make sure that employment is at the highest it has ever been.