Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

The Government backbenchers may not have heard some of the policy statements put out by the Fine Gael Party. We are not afraid to publish a budget prior to the real budget. I was proud that our party stood up and said that we were not afraid of making changes and we published exactly and in detail what should be done. Unfortunately, the Government failed to acknowledge what we have said. It brought in a budget designed to ask the people who are already at financial breaking point to pay more and continue to pay more.

The Government is asking people to pay out in every direction for everything. Those families who are struggling financially will see a cut in one of the real and solid incomes going into their house. This is a direct cut which affects children and families. For the past 15 years, in the majority of cases, child benefit was used for food and for children's clothes. In the past year, child benefit has become even more essential for families to survive. The Minister for Finance and this Fianna Fáil and Green Government have chosen to impose a cruel and difficult cut which will mean that many families face a cold and bleak new year and they will be under increasing pressure. This budget hit the same people again and again without consideration for how they would manage in the future. There is a further increase in the drug payment scheme which will hit the people who most need our support.

Worst of all, one of the best group of people in this country who consistently save the taxpayer money and who work in many families all over the country, are the carers. Deputy Mattie McGrath will know the wonderful carer's association in south Tipperary under the chairmanship of Richie Molloy, a Fianna Fáil councillor. I wonder how he feels tonight with the slashing and the cut. The carers came to Dublin to lobby and I heard them, week in, week out, being told by Fianna Fáil TDs that they would protect them and look after them. At 6 p.m. tomorrow evening these Deputies will vote against those people.

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