Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Why are the rich being protected at the expense of the poor?

A lot of the budget is focused against women and I will give one example. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has pencilled in a saving of €45 million in a full year through a change in the rules of eligibility for the State pension. Based on her figures, this could affect over 50,000 people, 90% of whom are women, from September 2012. Put simply, anyone who during a normal working life took time out to rear children or care for elderly relatives will see their pension entitlements decrease by €30 per week-----

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