Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Listening to the Taoiseach's answer, we see the disconnect between the theory on the one part and the reality on the other. We know about sacrifices, but those sacrifices have been disproportionate. There are people in this country who have not made one sacrifice because they have been protected by the economic policy. There is no doubt that the cuts have undermined people's rights - rights to a decent living, housing, education and health. Certain vulnerable groups are being affected disproportionately, including women, children, the elderly and the disabled. The Convention on the Constitution has recognised the need for a referendum on economic, social and cultural rights.

One of the reasons budget cuts are not fairer all around is that we do not have a democratic participation of all sectors in the budget process meaning that the principles of social justice and human sympathy are missing. We need to give a sense of dignity through those policies to those groups that are vulnerable. There are two ways to do that. One is the equality proofing of budgets - the social-impact analysis of budgets. The other is to listen in a meaningful way to the social actors who are directly involved with communities and groups that are struggling and not just pay them lip service.

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