Simon Harris

It will give our law enforcement agencies stronger tools, improve intelligence sharing across the State, strengthen oversight of emerging risks and ensure Ireland continues to meet the highest international standards.

That's why the Government is determined to increase housing supply while continuing to back practical supports like help to buy that make a real difference to people’s lives.

We know that there is still so much more to do in relation to housing.

For so many families, it has made the difference between continuing to rent and getting the keys to their own home.

For thousands of first-time buyers, this is a scheme that has helped to bridge the gap to home ownership by making it easier to secure the deposit required to buy or build.

These latest figures show that almost 49,000 households have now been supported through help to buy.

Owning a home remains one of the biggest ambitions for many individuals and families. Our job is to make that ambition a reality.

A warm and substantive engagement around a range of issues and we have agreed to meet next month at the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers in the US

I did not enter politics for the benefit of rich households, but that many people who are working hard and getting up early to do so are not currently seeing enough benefit from their pay cheques.

At present, a single person begins to pay the higher 40% rate of tax at €44,000.

The Government's approach to this would be the same as it has been from day one, to be nimble, to be agile, to keep things under review.

There has to be a tax package that delivers for working people.

We have agreed to meet next month at the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers in the US

I look forward to substantive and cooperative engagement with MEPs as we move forward on our shared objectives.

Preparing for the future means understanding the economic, fiscal and societal implications of all possible futures, including the prospect of a united Ireland.

None of this suggests that transition would be without significant cost or complexity. It would require careful planning, sustained investment and responsible fiscal management.

Operating within a single currency would eliminate exchange rate risk, reduce transaction costs for businesses and consumers, and simplify cross-border trade and investment.

I want to prioritise personal income tax changes, saying I have made no secret of the fact I want to adapt the existing system.

The priority in the budget must be to reward work.

I very much see this budget as a kind of a direction of budget and setting out the direction of travel that we intend to take.

We are prepared for all scenarios.

There's still far too much silence in our country and in our society in relation to this issue of miscarriage, and it's really important that we bring about a statutory entitlement to pregnancy laws.

By the time we phase out some of these cuts in a tapered way over four months, the consumer shouldn't be actually feeling the impact.

What I want to be very clear on is I expect to have an understanding from industry.

This presidency won't just be a presidency for governments or institutions or politicians alone. It will be a presidency for people, for the people of Ireland, for the people of Europe.