Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Neither I, nor any of my Sinn Féin colleagues, have had an opportunity yet to participate on Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill. It will be difficult to find the opportunity in the course of the limited time being provided with a guillotine falling at 3.30 p.m. This is important legislation. Among the issues already referred to by Deputy Shortall, there is also the cancellation of the Christmas bonus to welfare recipients. The Departments have spun this as representing 2% of the overall social welfare budget. It represents, however, a significantly higher percentage of the annual budget of those dependants who look forward to and need that lift at that critical time of the year. The consequences-----

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