Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I will not remind Deputy Burton of VAT on children's shoes. In these unstable times, these people fall victim to those in Opposition and the media who cast the darkest light on their future. Older people panic. They rely most on our social welfare system and have difficulty fending for themselves. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to look after them. The Government is well aware of this and has striven in this budget, and all the budgets we have been involved in, to ensure the welfare of pensioners. The Minister, Deputy Hanafin, has done a fantastic job increasing spending for the elderly by over €166 million, given the level of the reduction in finances. An increase of €7 per week in the contributory and non-contributory State pensions is most generous, bringing the weekly State contributory pension to €230.30 and the non-contributory pension to €219. I have met many pensioners in my constituency and was generous and bold enough to go out and meet them on the streets when they were out there some weeks ago.

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