Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to have the honour to say a few words about this important Bill. I often had the opportunity when my party was in opposition to speak to the social welfare Bill and relished the opportunity to do so. However, today is different because I am on the Government side of the House. We have to be realistic about where the country is at. In the light of this, I say to the Government: well done for not cutting social benefits, including those for pensioners. As I travelled across my constituency in recent months I met many people, particularly older people who were fearful that their pensions would be cut. While they wished the Government the best of luck with the budget, they did not want to see their benefits being cut. I am pleased to say the Government has not cut their pension benefits. When I attended a function in my constituency last night, I was amazed at the number of people whom I met who said, "Well done on the budget; you were a fair Government to do what you did." I was amazed at the response to the budget.

While many Members have differing views, we are often removed from what people on the ground think. The public is very fair. It understands we are borrowing almost €300 million a week to run the country and that such borrowing is not sustainable into the future. It does not believe those who say there is another and better way to do it. There is not and it knows it. The people will stand behind us while we debate the issues involved and introduce the necessary measures to make the country a fairer place for all.

I listened with interest to the contribution of the new Labour Party Deputy. I would love to have had a word with him before he made some of his decisions. Like me, he was elected in a by-election. I was first elected to the House in a by-election in 2001. Until earlier this year I was on the Opposition benches, standing up making contributions and speeches week in week out. It is only in recent months that I can say I have been able to participate and do something for the people I represent, because be it right or wrong the structures of the House mean that only those in government can do something for the people.

In recent weeks the issues with regard to the budget, such as health, social welfare, agriculture and job creation, were discussed at our parliamentary party meetings and parliamentary party meetings of the Labour Party, which Ministers attended. Some issues were also discussed on the airwaves. However, the only people who could have a say were the Government parties. They are the people who make a difference.

To anyone who is privileged to be part of a Government team I say there is no better place to make a difference and impact than to be in government, given the structures we have. I wish Deputy Nulty well and I hope his career is a good one, but as somebody who served on the Opposition side of the House for many years I will give him a tip: one can talk for hours and do much research but the system we have here, although it is opening up through pre-budget discussions, means we must be on the Government side of the House to have an impact.

We have also had a good impact on jobseeker's allowance and benefit which were not touched. Child benefit for the first two children remains unchanged. Payments to carers will be maintained and the half-rate carer's allowance will continue to be paid to people who are full-time carers and who receive another welfare benefit. The annual respite grant of €1,700 will continue and carer's allowance remains unchanged at €204 for those under 66 years of age and €239 for those aged 66 and over.

Of course the budget will be tough on many people. Nobody on this side of the House suggests otherwise, but there are plenty of examples of the positive effort made by the Government to protect some of the more vulnerable in society. We saw many examples of the implementation of unnecessarily harsh cuts by the previous Government impacting on pensioners. We all remember the pensioners who attacked John Moloney at a meeting.

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