John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The amendment which has been ruled out of order was tabled by me and my colleague, Deputy Denise Mitchell. It relates to the timing of payments. A number of similar amendments have been tabled and all relate to the date on which payments are to be made. They seek to bring forward the date of payment of the relevant payments to 1 January. The rationale for changing budget day some years ago was to ensure all payments and taxation measures would run for the entire calendar year from 1 January to 31 December. It was to give departmental officials time to roll out the taxation measures and changes introduced in the budget from 1 January. I understand the amendment has been ruled out of order because it would impose an additional cost on the Exchequer, but that does not take from the principle that a commitment was given to run budgets from 1 January to 31 December, a commitment from which we have moved away. While many other taxation measures will take effect from 1 January, payments for pensioners and people with disabilities are being pushed back to March. I have now made the point and will not make the same argument on all of the amendments that have been ruled out of order. Ten amendments were tabled to seek to have all of the relevant payments made from 1 January. It is unfortunate that old age pensioners and people with disabilities will have to wait until March to receive their increased payments. It may be a little late in the day, but I urge the Minister to reconsider that decision.