It is really important to say that at any time a government needs to be both ready and able to respond to crises if and when they arise. We saw recently that when the Government was in a position where it could respond. It had the capital to deploy to help support people through the oil shock we are experiencing due to what is going on in the Middle East, and to the tune of €750 million. It is prudent financial management over the past few years that has got us into a position where we are able to respond should crisis arise. However, there are people out there right now who are struggling. They are struggling to pay bills and to afford the cost of living in this country and they need to be supported in the upcoming budget. They need to be supported to see that hard work pays and that the work they are doing is valued both by society. They must be able to see that in their pockets as well. It is also important to recognise the ground is shifting. What used to be a career for life is no longer the same today and the jobs market is shifting rapidly and changing. It therefore becomes even more important the Government is prudent in how it manages its finances so we can help transition in the coming years to the newer economy we are going to experience. With that, we cannot leave people behind. We have to ensure people are upskilled, educated and given every opportunity to succeed, going forward. I firmly believe Ireland is best positioned in the European Union to be one of the most successful countries over the next five or ten years. However, if we do not bring people with us and if everyone does not feel that success then what was it all for? As a Government, we have to ensure we have the financial power to be able to deliver serious public services. A lot of the work I have been doing on public spending and the management of that is so there is transparency for the public on how government is spending and how contract management is working. It is only when you get that transparency you can track what is happening and make a decision on how we could be more efficient, which is a problem the Government has at the moment. So much money has come in and one of the biggest frustrations I hear out there day in, day out is that the Government has all this money yet we are not seeing the boots on the ground and the projects being built, including large-scale infrastructure. That is where we need to see that acceleration. I welcome the work that is going on with the Critical Infrastructure Bill but we have to be able to show tangible results. For me, priorities would be to see the double-tracking of the line from Athenry to Galway, and to see the 300-bed block get through the critical infrastructure pathway and be built.

Sentiment score: 0.08