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

I would be happy if it was on e-mail. I do not know about the other Deputies. We understand that it needs to be updated and that it is not always right up to date. When the legislation changes we can take account of that. The one I am working off is two or three years old.

Before the Minister came in we had a discussion on the range of amendments that are ruled out of order. I am aware the Minister does not rule them out of order. As I managed to get one included which has not been ruled out, I think I have achieved a miracle. In order that people know, amendments are ruled out of order on the basis that they impose a potential charge on the Exchequer or are not relevant to the provisions of the Bill. That makes it very difficult for Opposition or backbench Deputies to make progressive or radical proposals, whichever they wish, which are realistic. It makes our job difficult. Even where we are trying to change legislation to give positive effect, sometimes we are hampered. I want the public to understand that we do make the effort. If the Minister sees any amendments that are useful and that she would have been inclined to take on board, she may indicate that from the list. We will come to them when dealing with the different sections.

It is important that the income disregard, which was set up in the first instance because the State had recognised the level of deprivation and sometimes disconnect among this group of people, be reviewed to ensure if at all possible that it is reinstated to its full limit. I would argue that this could have been done this time. We produced our own budget alternative. It is one of the issues we could and should look at during the year.

Even if it cannot be done at this stage, there will probably be a social welfare Bill, if not two, next year and the Minister might look again to see it can be reinstated to the original level of €146 rather than the suggested €90.