We all know that the budget had to include some austerity measures in order that we might get back on some kind of track. Privately, Fianna Fáil colleagues inform me that social welfare needed to be cut. However, they have not indicated the elements of social welfare which they believe should be cut. Privately, they also state that the level of social welfare spending is outrageous. We protected baseline rates of social welfare. In order to make savings in respect of social welfare, it was, therefore, necessary to tamper with other aspects. Will Fianna Fáil provide us with an alternative? As Senator Gilroy stated, Fianna Fáil's pre-budget submission was not costed by the Department of Finance. It may have been costed by Senator Leyden and a few others who appear to know everything but it was certainly not costed by the Department of Finance.

It is well costed.

Nor have Fianna Fáil's colleagues-----

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

Senator Kelly is under pressure.

He is feeling the pressure.

The budget will cost him a seat in Dáil Éireann on the next occasion.

Senator Kelly should come over to this side of the House.

There will be a cost for him and many more in the House.

Senator Leyden has indicated-----

Senator Leyden should relax.

The Senator mentioned my name.

I do not want the Senator to have high blood pressure.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

The Chair should offer me some protection.

The Senator has indicated that he wishes to speak and he will have the opportunity to do so.

I will take that opportunity. I am just waiting for it to arise.

Nor have Fianna Fáil's colleagues in Sinn Féin-----

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I will pose it in a moment.

The Senator's time is almost exhausted.

If I am allowed to speak, I will be able to pose any amount of questions.

The Senator is almost out of time.

I was walking down the corridor following last evening's Adjournment debate and I met three Sinn Féin Members. I heard them state "The devil must be in the detail".

That is hearsay. Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

It is not hearsay. I heard what they said.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

The devil must be in the detail because outside of the reduction to the respite care grant, those opposite are struggling to find a really substantive measure in the budget about which they can criticise the Government.

The Senator should stop. Why does he not go hiding at weekends?

Does Senator Kelly have a question for the Leader?

I am coming to it. I welcome the fact that three matters in respect of which I have campaigned continually were all addressed in the budget.

The Senator got what he was seeking.

The first of these is the rebate for the haulage sector in respect of diesel costs, the second is the jobs initiative scheme. I have continually stated that social welfare payments should be used to get people back to work-----

The Senator is way over time.

The third is that-----

I call Senator Cullinane.

For every one of the past three weeks, Senator Darragh O'Brien has been raising the issue of home help hours. In the budget----

The Senator's time is up. He must conclude.

I have no question for the Leader today.