Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are seeking to change section 27 to make it fairer for people, particularly those who are disabled or on supplementary benefit, jobseeker's allowance or farm assist, and disabled people who lost money today under the mobility allowance. It is to allow those groups some relief in this matter because they will not be able to pay this on top of the other charges they must pay. Last year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul saw hundreds of thousands of people. If this charge comes in, it will have a significant impact on those houses and on the working poor. We meet many people who are in jobs but with the cost of travel to work and all of the other charges they have to pay including health insurance and so on, they are at breaking point. Some of them are beyond that point, and this will add to the pain they are suffering. I oppose section 27.