Damien English, TD

A Cheann Comhairle, Yesterday this Government delivered its fourth Budget to the House. This is a Budget to secure our recovery and to get Ireland working again. A recovery that many in this House said was impossible.

Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has today (Tuesday) said that Budget 2015 is fair, and will help to secure the recovery for all sectors of Irish society. Low and middle income earners, the housing market, tourism and families have all been helped by today’s budget, and the sacrifices made by people over the last seven years will not be wasted.

In the three minutes I have to speak it is not possible to comment in detail on any or all of the elements of the budget. However, having listened yesterday to the litany from the Opposition of all the spending measures that were not included in it, I thought it was important to say something about what it was actually about.

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and Chair of Fine Gael’s Internal Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Martin Heydon, has today (Tuesday) said that Budget 2015 is good news for the horse racing and breeding industries. Deputy Heydon was speaking after Minister Noonan announced €18 million in additional funding for the Horse and Greyhound Fund over the next three years and an additional investment of €5m for the country’s racecourses.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the positive steps taken in Budget 2015 to address the housing shortage and the homeless crisis.

Good example of the kind of growth that is taking place in established companies across the country

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has today (Tuesday) said that the announcement in Budget 2015 to end the moratorium on civil service recruitment is a positive step. Deputy Lawlor said however that it is vital the new recruitment drive focuses on front line staff, including much needed doctors, nurses, teachers and Gardaí.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty has today (Tuesday) said the extension of BreastCheck to women aged 69 will save lives.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has said the first budget since 2009 which does not cut the health budget offers an opportunity to stabilise the delivery of services and refocus reform.