John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I pay tribute to the Minister who, despite having to introduce this cut, has come to the House to explain it in great detail. Nobody wishes to propose or support cuts in social welfare but this is a time when, unfortunately, all Departments are expected to try to deal with the current state of the public finances. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is not safe from the cut as well.

I accept the point about the importance of the Christmas bonus. However, it should be put in context. I have difficulty accepting the tag of being mean-spirited when I consider the total amount of funding for the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department's expenditure. I hope people will understand that while this is a serious measure, the Minister has suggested that it is not a measure the Government proposes to keep into the future. The commitment has been given that as soon as the public finances are restored this cut will be dealt with.

The choice for the Minister and the Government was to cut rates across the board.

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