I am very glad to stand up here and support this budget. I do so on the following grounds. With regard to the VAT reduction for the hospitality sector and hairdressers, I have heard a lot of criticism by people to the effect that this is a budget for companies like McDonald's and that the VAT reduction is for them. I remind people that in the county I represent, many of our takeaway businesses and many of those fast food outlets might be under a franchise of a larger group but they are family businesses. I heard a Deputy from across these benches this morning describe it on Radio Kerry as a cod of a budget. Now, it did not exactly take an awful lot of in-depth knowledge to summarise the whole budget as a cod. I will I go through the issues that are not a cod and that are not a joke-----
Sentiment score: 0.02
I will answer that in a second-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
With regard to the VAT reduction, this is something that is most welcome in the tourism capital of the western world, which is County Kerry. We want to see that being implemented. I will be very frank and say that I would rather have seen it come into force next March rather than July, but that is an issue we will deal with again. However, when it comes to misinformation, I am very glad a man mentioned something there. The one thing I will do in life and in politics is that I will go in straight lines. I saw a person giving the impression there was a vote here last night. There were five votes here last night; the Deputy was here for them. All Deputies were here for them. There was no vote, in any shape or form, on carbon tax.
Sentiment score: 0.14
If you were to listen to those people putting up things last night on YouTube, you would swear to God there was a vote. There was not. There was a vote a number of years ago. There will be no more votes until 2030, so the people who voted that way-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
I voted the way I voted a number of years ago.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I stand over that 100%.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I was not one of those over there who at one time was saying we were not going far enough quickly enough. I remember people over there saying that with regard to carbon taxes but they hate being reminded about that.
Sentiment score: -0.36
I absolutely did. I was there, and I know exactly what way I voted.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I did not go on YouTube last night telling lies.
Sentiment score: -0.42
Well, at least I have a soul.
Sentiment score: 0.27
At least I have a head.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have a very short amount of time and I would like to use it.
Sentiment score: 0.36
Was there a vote on it last night? The Deputy does not even know what he is talking about.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputy did not see what I am talking about. He does not know what he is saying.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I am factual in what I am saying. What was put up last night was lies.
Sentiment score: -0.21
Can I carry on?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Thank you. With regard to the €2.3 billion we have for agriculture, we have a very important to job to do in agriculture in that TB is posing a grave threat to Ireland at present. I am so glad we have ensured we will have proper funding in place to eradicate TB and to arrest those figures and bring them down. At the same time, we are not in any way endangering or taking money away from other very important programmes we have, such as TAMS, ACRES and the support for the tillage men. We have managed to fund those properly, and at the same time properly fund, for example-----
Sentiment score: 0.11
In my own section, forestry is going to have a proper reconstitution scheme, which I am glad we were in a position to announce today. That will ensure a reconstitution scheme for the people who were affected - over 12,000 ha in private ownership - so they can use their land again and grow trees. I am very glad we were able to do that while also taking on the very serious issue of TB eradication. It is so important for our sheep, tillage and cattle men to know the supports and the schemes that were fully funded before will have the same level of funding again.
Sentiment score: 0.50
With regard to licensing, the Leas Cheann-Comhairle knows there was an issue, problem and delay before with licensing. I am sure everybody in this House will be delighted to know that since Kerry won the All-Ireland, the Department's office in Wexford has issued 400 licences for thinning and clear felling of trees. We have completely turned around the whole licensing structure. You would nearly want a tractor and trailer every week to draw the licences out of Wexford because we are so successful.
Sentiment score: 0.25
Nobody over there would want to hear that because it is a success story.
Sentiment score: 0.61
I am after instilling confidence into forestry, a thing that not one of the Deputies opposite would probably know anything about. I am very glad that I have that job of work done. There is a confidence in the sector now.
Sentiment score: 0.51
I have ensured that we have planted double the number of trees this year as against last year. Has any one of the Deputies got a problem with that?
Sentiment score: -0.16
I am also very glad with regard to farm safety. Farm safety is very important to all of us and we have an additional 17% of funding which will bring us to €3 million. This Government takes very seriously the issue of farm accidents and farm deaths. I am very glad to be able to support an AgriAware scheme for schools. We have people going out to marts dealing with farmers, not just on their physical health but also their mental health, and having a little chat with them. A lot of our farmers are working predominantly alone. It can be a lonesome way of life with hard work and hard living. With those schemes, through the IFA and other organisations, we are outreaching to farmers, meeting them and taking them through health checks. We have additional funding in this budget. There are an awful lot of positive aspects to this budget. There are an awful lot of serious issues in this budget that, to be honest-----
Sentiment score: 0.04
-----if you were going to be fair and balanced about it, you would have to welcome them.
Sentiment score: 0.65
It is very easy to just shout and roar about negatives-----
Sentiment score: 0.49
-----but at the end of the day, if you are telling the truth and going in a straight line and not like what happened last night, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
Sentiment score: 0.27
A person from over there went on Facebook and told blatant untruths.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is about all the Deputy would be good for.
Sentiment score: 0.44
Mary Lou is delighted with the reduction in the VAT. She said she would do it a couple of months ago if she had power. She is delighted.
Sentiment score: 0.34
We have to stay quiet now, do we?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputies can shout and roar all they like but when they start speaking we are all supposed to be silent.
Sentiment score: 0.19
Does Deputy Doherty ever shut up, no?
Sentiment score: -0.30
I will tell the Deputies one thing they will not do.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I will tell the Deputies one thing they will not do here. This is very serious now. They might bully or threaten someone else but they will not-----
Sentiment score: -0.20
-----bully me and they will not shout me down.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Try it any time you like but you will not win because I will not be intimidated.
Sentiment score: -0.06