Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised the amount was less than the €2 million I mentioned, even though the €2.5 billion appears to be a substantial package. It would be a great story if we had €2.5 billion to distribute to the poor in Ireland and it would have an effect. However, a sum of €2 million or less each year will not change substantially the lot of those in extreme crisis in Ireland. While the figures vary, there are 60,000 people at risk of poverty in Ireland and the number has probably increased since the budget. Those are the latest figures. If we were to take only those who are homeless and those who are totally dependent on social welfare, €2 million or less would not go a long way. It would only be the cost of a packet of EasiSingles, €2.90, based on that figure. The reason I concentrate on the negotiations is that if we want to get a greater share of the €2.5 billion pot, we need to be in the strongest possible position.

A problem in our taking a decision on this now is that while Ireland, in having the Presidency of the EU, will have the goodwill of other countries, that role will hamper our direct negotiation on this. I am not blind enough to say we should pull out of this and disappear off the radar. While the officials will continue to argue Ireland's position it would be much better if the Irish Government was out there publicly demanding a greater proportion of this pot of money in competition with countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, which are in extreme crisis like ourselves.

I am disappointed this is not a bigger pot of money. This is European Union citizens' money, which we paid into the European Union in the recent past, and this allocation is a pittance. That is not the fault of the Department. This proposal was only initiated in October and it seems it is progress is being rushed. It should have been initiated when the crisis came to light two or three years ago and it would have been in place at this stage. It will not come into effect next year but is intended to come into effect the following year. It will not deliver €2.5 billion in the morning to the poor in Spain, Portugal or those other countries of which Deputy Butler said we in the Opposition do not appear to be aware. I have many good friends living in Spain and Portugal who have regularly explained to me and others the extreme crisis they are in. Sometimes they hear what our Government is doing and they are also concerned about those in despair in Ireland.