Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister gives the impression that he turns up at Cabinet meetings to discuss the budget and brings the entire Estimate for the Department of Social Protection, which is then gone through line by line. Is it not the case, however, that he will bring to the Cabinet his recommendations for cuts in his Department? Is that not the reality of how it will happen? The Minister for Social Protection will bring forward suggestions, which will then be discussed and decided collectively by the Cabinet, as distinct from Cabinet members going through it and asking, "Could you save a few quid here and there?" Is that not the case? The Minister is concerned about the media's interpretation of his comments, but have the media interpreted those comments incorrectly? Have Opposition spokespersons misinterpreted the Minister's comments? Is he not going to touch the old age pension?

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