Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

That is what we are talking about - percentage this, percentage that across the different income levels. It does not translate into reality or illustrate what people are facing on a daily basis. Does the Taoiseach not accept that the impact on this woman's circumstances is much graver than is indicated by stating the percentage drop compared to the highest income earners within the public service? It is an indisputable fact and if the Taoiseach does not accept it he is far removed from the reality of ordinary people's lives. I can tell him it is a serious situation for them.

How can the Taoiseach justify these cuts for people at the lowest income level while at the same time setting aside from his Department's budget some €400,000 annually to support no less than three advisers for the Minister for Health and Children? He indicated that to us in response to parliamentary questions last year. A total of €400,000 is paid to three people for taking an advisory role to the Minister in a different Department. Does that cross-departmental arrangement apply in any other situation? Why should it apply in the case of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney? Why should the Taoiseach's Department be the bail-out Department, transferring funds to the Department of Health and Children? The income earnings of those people far exceed those of ordinary low- to middle-income earners in the Taoiseach's Department, yet he is quite happy to make a transfer of more than €400,000 annually to the Minister in order to ensure her goodwill and allow her to act, as she has done over a number of years, as the apron for the attacks on the health system, saving the face of the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil.

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