Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

——will have to pay a fair tax? Does it mean that he will undo the cuts of €58 million from the most vulnerable people on the margins of society in the social welfare package? Does it mean he will restore the RAPID programme that was designed to transfer resources to the most disadvantaged areas of the country? Does it mean that a woman fleeing domestic violence will now qualify for the rent supplement? People will want to know if his calculated, cynical announcement at the weekend will mean a change of direction in the Government policies he has pursued for seven and a half years?

Does it mean that people who cannot afford a mortgage will now have a chance of getting a local authority house? Up to now these people had to make do with a total of 315 houses built under the new social provisions of the planning legislation. Will the Taoiseach indicate to the House if people on very low incomes, for example, will qualify for medical cards as a result of this change of Government direction?

Does the Taoiseach have many soul brothers and sisters in the Cabinet to assist him in this change of direction?

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