Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank all Deputies for their contributions, some of which were more robustly made than others. A lot of valid points were made. I will try to deal with them as best I can.

I reiterate that savings had to be made in the social welfare budget. There were no easy options. Every cut or change affects someone now or in the future. We must balance our national income and expenditure. Momentous events taking place in Europe may give us some easement or may make the situation in the coming year a whole lot more difficult. We must address the deficit.

Deputy Cowen at the beginning of his contribution spoke in glowing terms about the enormous increases of 300% plus in the social welfare budget at a time when inflation amounted to only a small amount. When I came into office, I inherited cuts of more than €800 million from Deputy Healy-Rae's former party.

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