Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

The Minister would make Margaret Thatcher proud. Nobody is arguing that fraud should be tolerated but the Minister has elevated this issue to the extent that people who, through no fault of their own, may be in receipt of an inaccurate payment, are being demonised as people who are robbing the State, more or less. She speaks about protecting public money. It is also her duty to ensure that scarce resources and public workers are employed to the best effect. Her Department's staff are out investigating malicious complaints in many instances when there is a backlog of payments waiting for people who are entitled to social welfare payments. This is neither a protection nor a good use of public money.

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