THE forthcoming election was on deputies' minds as they resumed debate on the Budget yesterday.
Mr Eric Byrne (DL, Dublin South Central) repeated the assertion of the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, that it was "not an election budget". It was the logical culmination of the social and economic policies which had been pursued by the Government since it assumed office, said Mr Byrne.
The Fianna Fail deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said rural areas were not sharing in the boom that hit Dublin and other major cities.
Most of the new jobs in Dublin were going to rural people. The impact of migration on the rural areas was devastating.
Mr David Andrews' "(FF, Dun Laoghaire) said the Minister for Finance had confused the function of a Budget with a negotiated pay deal.
