Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister states €533 million was saved on fraud this year. It is outrageous that this cannot be dealt with. The Minister went for the soft option; he went for the carers, the blind pension, the children and the family unit. That was never the republican party Fianna Fáil line. It was always supposed to support the family, the weak and the sick. However, in this budget it went after them and attacked them. The only good news in the budget - I hope the Minister will confirm it for me - is that pensioners were left alone with regard to the universal social contribution. Fine Gael also has it in its plan that pensioners would be left alone. Pensioners have made their contribution to society. They worked hard over the years. Whatever about not giving increases, one cannot give something with one hand and take it back with the other because it has an awful effect on people, particularly those on low incomes. If people never got it they would not miss it.

The budget targeted low and middle income families and it is wrong that it did so. There was money to be got from the rich but the Government took the easy option and attacked families on low and middle incomes. Some of these families will be down €879 a year, which is approximately €17 a week. This is wrong. The universal social charge will also have an effect on families.

The Minister talks a good game on protecting the most vulnerable but in this budget he failed. He let them down and certainly did not deal with the problems they have. I am very disappointed about this. I expected the Minister to tell the Minister for Finance that he could not touch the weak, the poor or the most vulnerable in society. I understand we have a massive social welfare bill and that cuts must be made to it, but there must be other ways of targeting these cuts rather than attacking the most vulnerable. I was disappointed.

The Minister is now discussing a new scheme to bring people into the workplace. I hope it works. I hope it will not be compulsory and I expect clarification on this tomorrow on Committee Stage. People who want to participate will do so but I do not want it to be compulsory and to expect an architect to become a carpenter. This should not happen and it should not be used to take away social welfare payments.

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