Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Má sheasann a gceannairí leis na ndaoine, is féidir leo todhchaí níos fearr a bhaint amach le chéile, agus tá a fhios sin ag an Taoiseach. Muna sheasann a gceannairí leis na ndaoine agus má bhriseann siad a ngeallúintí, beidh siad ar an mbóthar mícheart. Tá a fhios sin ag an Taoiseach fosta. Tá baol ann go bhfuil beagán á rá chun dóchas a thabhairt do dhaoine. Is léir go bhfuil an Rialtas ar an mbealach mícheart. Tá mí fíor-chinnte faoi sin. Tá slí níos fearr ann. Tá an tslí atá bunaithe ar an cheart ann, agus tá a fhios sin ag an Taoiseach fosta.

When is a cut not a cut? Be sure that the cuts the Government has introduced will have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable in society. Fuel allowance will be cut by 20%. Despite pre-election promises, cuts in child benefit will cost a four-child family €432 in 2012 and €768 in 2013. Measures are being introduced to target those in part-time employment when there are almost 500,000 people on the dole.

I have a simple question. Perhaps the Taoiseach will explain why he is prepared to intervene to secure a €35,000 hike for a political crony - this pay rise is more than the average industrial wage - when he believes it acceptable to cut child benefit, disability allowance and mental health provision. How can one citizen have these incomes and services slashed while another citizen, a former Fine Gael adviser, can be given a €35,000 rise in contravention of the Government's own regulations?

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