Speaking on RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock news on Tuesday night, he said he wants to “make this Budget a reality for people”.
When asked whether it is a “giveaway pre-election Budget”, he said: “It is actually the last Budget of this Government’s mandate, that is a statement of fact but I’m very eager that the Government now finishes its work.”
“We’ve announced the Budget today. I understand why our opponents would like to move quickly on and talk about something else. We’ve no intention of doing that,” he said.
“I want to continue to talk to people about the difference this Budget will make, and crucially, I want to pass the laws in our Dáil and our Seanad to make this Budget a reality for people.
“We need to finish our work. There’ll be a general election in due course and I look forward to that moment.”
Mr Harris added that the Government set aside around €3 billion in additional infrastructure spending to build more houses and improve water infrastructure and electricity.
“We’ve taken measures to help with schools, hospitals, supporting the gardaí and reducing tax,” he said.
He said it is a “balanced approach” which tries to respond to the needs of the people of Ireland.
“I’ve travelled to the length and breadth of the country. I’ve listened to people, and today I’ve endeavoured to deliver,” he said.
“People have told me that, yes, they know inflation’s falling, they know the economy is going well, but they’re still feeling pressure around the kitchen table, in the business and on the farm.
“What we’ve done is give people a little bit of their own money back in a cost of living package that will make a real difference for parents, for pensioners, for carers, for people with a disability, and indeed, also with the cost of energy in the winter months.
“It’s what people asked me to do, and it’s what we’re trying to deliver on today.”
In response to the comment by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that the Budget “repeats the mistakes of the past”, he said: “Irish Fiscal Advisory Council have an important job to do, and I respect that, but they’ll also respect that I have a job to do as well.”
“We’re setting aside many billions of euros in funds for the future to make sure my children and their children never experience the austerity that many of us lived through,” he said.
“But we also have to respond here and now, when you’re running very large surpluses, I think it’s a perfectly appropriate thing to do to give people back a little bit of money to help them make ends meet and also to help invest in vital public services.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Jack Chambers, who announced the Budget with Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohue, told RTÉ’s Prime Time that there is a “very clear direction” in the Budget.
“The Budget was all about the future,” he said.
“€3 billion being allocated to three key priorities in our economy and for people across communities in Ireland. €1.25 billion to the land development agency to drive more social and affordable housing, which is of central importance.
“Secondly, in €750 million for future grid infrastructure. And thirdly, €1 billion to capitalise on Irish water so we can support wider housing supply in our economy.
“Underpinning all that, we’re setting a clear direction when it comes to the windfall receipts we’re receiving from the recent Apple judgment of €14 billion and the wider direction, that is on driving future economic development and enhancing the future productive capacity of our economy to drive employment, opportunity and prosperity.”
He also said there is a surplus of over €20 billion this year and the Government is putting that aside in the Future Ireland Fund.
However, Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty criticised Budget 2025 and said that the Government is not “capable of delivering real change”.
“Budgets are all about choices, and what the Government has done is they’ve made [it clear] they have no big idea in relation to this Budget,” he told Prime Time.
“It’s easy to spend the cash. We’ve seen how they’ve been able to waste cash on the bike sheds and security huts and all of those, never mind the National Children’s Hospital.
“What the Government is incapable of doing is delivering real change.
“The minister talks about extra money for the land development agency. It was announced last year, and it doesn’t provide any additional social or affordable housing.”
