Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It will be a while yet before the decision so I will be all right for that.

I hope the Minister will be compassionate. These are difficult times for people. I do not want to see the weak and poor further disadvantaged. The social welfare budget is approximately €20 billion. We have given €22 billion to the banks. While I accept there needed to be a cut in every Department, it is the Minister's duty and mine to ensure we protect the weak, the sick and others who are in need at this time. We need to give them the resources to ensure they have some quality of life and are able at least to fend for themselves and their families.

It is very difficult for single people. They are not working and are around all day. There is a cost factor to that in itself. I hope the Minister will come up with new schemes to retrain people and to keep as many of them as possible on these schemes.

I cannot say anything more. I look forward to Committee Stage.

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