Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Not only did I do so in my Department but we also did it cross-departmentally in our discussions. We were very conscious that various cuts could impact on the same people. In discussions prior to the budget, organisations representing different groups, particularly the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, made clear that while they did not want any cuts, which can be taken as a given, where there were cuts they wanted one rather than myriad cuts. A general cut was made in child benefit and the rates of payment of social welfare benefit-----

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