We have had several discussions on this and related legislation associated with the budget. In some ways, we have tended to go around in circles. We are repeating the same things time and again because there have been no efforts to make any efforts to do what Opposition Deputies have suggested. On the one hand, I am not surprised but, at the same time, I am disappointed. I will look at the auto-enrolment section first. I agree with what colleagues have said about auto-enrolment and lower earners. Sometimes those who cannot work because of family care issues or healthcare issues work part-time. They are able to work 20 hours a week or less. They make a contribution and pay tax at a certain level. For such people not to be able to get into this scheme is patently unfair. As other people have mentioned, the same applies to low-paid workers. If you are in any way a taxpayer, you should be able to contribute to the scheme. I have raised issues before regarding the guarantees that are in place to copper-fasten the contributions, especially the Government element because, during the downturn, the Government did claw back what were thought to be sacrosanct moneys reserved for people. We could see that happen again. A lovely flashy ad started in the summer about the cherry on the top but there is a reason this is called a savings scheme rather than a true pension scheme. It should be geared more towards being a pension scheme than a savings scheme to guarantee the State and employer contributions and to ensure that we will not see it being taken away in the future because of some unforeseen circumstances. As I have said before, budget 2026 overall did not include sufficient measures for the poorest and most vulnerable. I take on board what the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said on the need to be mindful of windfall revenues but, to go back to the previous budget, in many ways, it was excessively generous compared with this one. If we had a more balanced structure, we would be in a better position. The €12 rise in core welfare rates does not offset inflation, leaving recipients with under a quarter of the average weekly earnings. Social Justice Ireland has said that a €25 increase was needed to meet the Government's benchmark. I am looking for money while saying we need to be fiscally responsible, but there are ways of getting that money. One of the ways of getting the money, especially for the likes of people with disabilities, as other Deputies have mentioned, is not to be giving little cuts to USC. I know this is controversial but we need a wider tax base and so should not take away little bits and bobs, preventing us from then being able to gain revenue down the line or requiring us to bring stuff back in again, which will have an even greater impact on society. We should be careful about taking away ways of getting revenue when we still have vulnerable people who are not getting enough. I have mentioned the €250 million housing measure, which I do not believe will work. I am not going to go into it now due to time constraints but there were areas where we could have supported those facing poverty or those who are more vulnerable within the existing tranche of funding and have had a more equitable budget, but we did not grasp that opportunity.

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