Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. I am delighted my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Curran is here. I congratulate him on all the work he is doing with the disadvantaged people in our society. Speaking earlier, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, said it is always important to look after our social welfare recipients, especially in times of economic strife and hardship. Unfortunately, we have reached such a time. Not only is our public spending being tightly controlled and closely monitored, but each individual citizen finds himself or herself in a similar predicament. We will all be affected and a large portion of society is vulnerable during this downturn.

I assure people on social welfare that this Government, like all Fianna Fáil Governments, has the interests of less well off people at heart. Despite our economic downturn, I am saddened having listened to a number of Opposition speakers because they did not acknowledge the generous social welfare budget proposed by the Government.

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