Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am glad to hear that the local problem is being resolved, but it should not have required me to raise it here twice before that happened. This type of emergency service should not break down anywhere and I hope we do not see a repetition of the problem elsewhere.

My second question was to ask the Taoiseach whether he would give an assurance to pensioners and others that there will not be a cut in basic social welfare payments. I can only interpret his reply as a coded confirmation that there will be cuts. Does the Taoiseach consider it reasonable that persons on €204 per week, or less than €11,000 per year, should have their level of payment reduced? I again invite him to assure people categorically that basic social welfare payments will not be cut.

Does the Taoiseach intend to publish the report of an bord snip nua? If so, will he inform the House when that will be done and whether it will be published in full?

See this speech in context