Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are dealing with this Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. As a representative of my party and an elected representative to this Dáil I am charged with the responsibility of examining this Bill and recommending amendments where appropriate and where possible. I am not interested in rehashing what happened eight or ten months ago. I was not elected to talk about what happened then. I am simply saying that the Minister is the Minister for Social Protection, and I commend her on the USC being deductible in the context of family income supplement, but why can it not be done in regard to jobseeker's allowance? Why will she not go further in that regard? The Minister said she questioned the Ministers involved in this area some months ago. If it is the case that this measure is in the context of the 2012 budget and that she cannot make a recommendation such as this because it would impose a charge on the State that is fair enough. If it is the case that it will mean that certain families will have their income reduced by €12 that is fair enough if it represents a saving for the Minister's Department and to the Exchequer. All I am saying is that it is a saving I do not agree with, commend or support. If the Minister wants to reiterate the fact in regard to social welfare rates, that is her prerogative. That is her responsibility and her decision. If that is the case, so be it but she should put it on the record to ensure we clearly understand it.

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