Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I would like to address the bulk of my remarks to the Labour Party because this debate is about core values. Last night, in her remarks, the Minister for Social Protection accused Sinn Féin of paying less in child benefit in the North than is paid in this State. As she knows well, child benefit rates in the North are set by the British Government. The Executive has no powers whatsoever on this issue and many people I know in the North are bemused by the number of times Government Deputies have spoken about the Six Counties and the plight of poor people at the hands of Sinn Féin. This is all an attempt by the Government to defend its indefensible positions by making distracting remarks, false accusations and diverting attention from what it is doing.

With regard to the current debate and the past number of weeks of leaks, the Government has had ample opportunity to say clearly that child benefit will not be touched. The Minister will have that opportunity later. The failure to do so thus far has caused considerable distress and anxiety for families and particularly for mothers who are usually the managers of the family budget. In December 2009, the Minister said: "Child benefit is keeping many families afloat. It is keeping bread on the table, and it is paying the food bills of a huge number of families." I agree with her. The motion gives her and the Labour Party the opportunity to follow the logic of these remarks and to defend child benefit.

This payment, as many of my colleagues have said, provides families, particularly on low and middle incomes, with the ability to provide for their children. Before it joined this conservative Government, the Labour Party used to defend the payment and in its manifesto for this year's election it said, "Labour believes that our children should not be made to pay for the current economic crisis. Labour will not cut child benefit". If that is the truth, then let the Minister send a clear signal that the party will abide on this occasion at least with its manifesto. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade went as far as to say, "Cuts to child benefit would be a make or break issue for Labour in coalition". Since then, circumstances have worsened for families and, in particular, for children. What would James Connolly do if he was here? What would his view be on the Labour Party's record thus far, as it targets child benefit, increases VAT by 2%, increases prescription charges and much more? It does not even make economic sense. By the Government's own admission, there will be more people unemployed in four years than there was when it came into power.

Other measures such as household, water and septic tank charges, student fees, stealth taxes and welfare, education and health cuts are deflationary, unfair and wrong. However, the Government thinks it is okay to bail out bondholders, pump taxpayers' money into zombie banks and allow a golden circle of former politicians and senior civil servants to continue to live off lavish pensions. While I appeal to the Fine Gael Party, I appeal, in particular, to the Labour Party to stand by struggling families and children, to oppose any cut in child benefit and, if nothing else, to deliver on the manifesto it was elected on, which is to ensure our children are cherished.

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