DESPITE HIS PUBLICLY-STATED aversion to Twitter it appears Brian Hayes has been converted to the social media platform as he today fielded questions on the Budget from Twitter users.

Using the hashtag #budgetqs, the Department of Finance’s official Twitter account and an iPad the Minister of State spent around half an hour answering questions and seemed in good spirits.

Here are a few things we learned…

1. Raising third level registration fees are ‘the least worst option’:

2. Reducing tax grows the economy:

3. Budget measures here have been the fairest of all bailout countries:

4. Construction on the National Children’s Hospital will start in 2015:

5. The government is keeping a close eye on minimum pricing in Scotland:

6. Selling the State’s share in Aer Lingus is being looked at ‘closely’:

7. More money will be collected from excise on cigarettes in 2014:

8. Hayes has changed his mind on Twitter, thanks to TheJournal.ie ;):

And three questions the Minister didn’t answer:

More: The Minister who ‘couldn’t be bothered’ with Twitter is doing a Budget Q&A on Twitter