Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I asked the Taoiseach to explain not about the authority vested in him but why he is prepared to do this and how he can introduce these cuts. In his convoluted way he has explained when a cut is not a cut. It is not a cut when the person is a former adviser to Fine Gael and is being employed by one of the Ministers. I refer to the enormity of this sum for ordinary people. The Government will impose a household charge of €100 and cut payments to lone parents. These are choices that the Government makes and it is not fair. It is wrong and the Taoiseach knows it is wrong to give one citizen €35,000 extra and to take money from those who are most vulnerable.

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