Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I provided that where one member of a couple has a part-time job that pays less than €12,500 the allowance will not taper because the idea was to benefit families that engage in farming. I am open to the Deputy's idea but there are two sides to the coin. I hope the Deputy is equally open to the argument that 2,500 people will put to me if I introduce double payments, suggesting what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The rural social scheme is not the same as the CE scheme because there is the matter of a third source of income. We can debate this matter again when we come to Estimates because there are merits to both arguments.

See this speech in context