Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Through detailed consideration I reduced those cuts to €475 million. I regret, like everybody else in the House, that there must be any cut in social welfare. Unfortunately, we were left in an EU-IMF structural adjustment programme and we must make expenditure reductions as well as general tax increases. They are the terms and conditions of the programme Ireland is in until we can get back on our feet with regard to financial sovereignty.

Last year, social welfare rates were cut across the board by €8 per week, with the exception of the old age pension. Child benefit was cut by €10 per month for all children. I made choices about what would be included in the €475 million of cuts. Those choices have been welcomed by pensioners and many people on a different range of social welfare benefits.

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