Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I commend the motion from Sinn Féin calling on the Government to exempt children from shouldering the burden of recovery. It is a no-brainer and, I believe, the Minister of State opposite will not disagree with it. Most people agree that we have a responsibility to protect those who need our protection most. One thing that has come out of the current crisis is that most people accept that there are many people angry with developments in recent years. They are angry for several reasons, one of which is that the recession has been deepening and this has affected many people. The austerity measures affect the less well off more than those who have a little more.

Unemployment is a significant factor and it is making people angry. Many young people are unemployed and this is a significant problem for the State. No doubt people have not forgotten the excesses of bankers which precipitated the crisis in the first place. The growing level of inequality and the growing gap between those who have and those who have not is probably one of the most annoying things of all for people.

I have no intention of second guessing what will be in the budget but I hope the Government will work towards achieving a level of fairness in whatever it does. It should be seen to be fair even if the measures are tough. If there is a sense of fairness and a sense of working towards dealing with the ingrained inequality in our society then people will respect us, but not otherwise. This applies not only in Ireland. I admit that the problems exist throughout Europe but there is no doubt that the least well off are being asked to pay for the crisis. Children and old people are among the most vulnerable groups of victims.

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