Donie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I am sure Deputies Penrose and Paul McGrath will wish Deputy Brady well in his new constituency. Of course it is an area which is loyal to the three of us. Its people have put us here. He will continue the good work for the area, for which the three of us have been working so hard and where we have seen such changes in our time in this House.

I welcome the Bill. I have never seen such radical changes as those which occurred over the past number of years. Gone are the bad old days when one got an increase of £1.50 in social welfare. Now there are increases three times the rate of inflation, as has been stated here this evening.

Much hard work has been done on behalf of the carers by Deputy Penrose, and by Deputy McGrath, who is an expert in financial matters and deputy spokesperson for his party, to advise and assist the Minister, Deputy Brennan. He is a caring Minister who has brought in many serious reforms. Not since the days of Charles Haughey have we seen such serious reforming in the House to benefit the underprivileged and those most in need.

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