Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am reluctant to say too much because my blood pressure might go through the roof. I pause, first, to welcome the Minister of State and the Bill.

It is interesting to listen to the comments of those who were formally in government. They say things should have been done differently. If they had been done differently when the previous Government was in office, we would not find ourselves in the mess we are in.

I welcome the increase in the State pension. During the past five years there has been no reduction in the contributory or non-contributory State pension. Holding this together was an important part of what the Government was trying to do. I welcome the €3 increase. We would have liked to have seen it being increased a little more, but we have to start with small steps.

In the previous Government people were leaping ahead of themselves. They were giving €1,000 to everyone with a child under three years of age. That approach did not help and because of it we are where we are today.

It is welcome that the free travel scheme, the free television licence and the living alone allowance are still in place. I also welcome the return of the Christmas bonus, which will see a 75% restoration.

I do not know to whom Deputies have been speaking, but I have been on the doorsteps and the people to whom I have been speaking welcome the fact that the Government has pulled the country back from the brink. This is very obvious from speaking to people on the doorsteps and I speak to people in all areas of my constituency. There are other points I will mention.

I sat and listened to a former Minister speak about water charges. The previous Government proposed a charge of €400. Fresh running water and wastewater services will cost people, in particular old age pensioners, €1.07 per week. We need to deal with reality. If money was abundant, as it was in the past, and it had been used appropriately instead of being squandered, we would not be in the position we are in today.

I welcome the changes proposed and compliment the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, who has made a huge contribution in the social welfare portfolio. No other Minister made the strides she has made in recent years. I will speak again later, but it is rich for Members to make statements, given that they had the opportunity to lead the country into a better future, but, unfortunately, they wasted it. That is my small contribution for what it is worth.