Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I have just learned of the sad passing of Mr. Paul Barry who worked in Leinster House for many years. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I convey our sympathy and sorrow to Paul's family. He was an outstanding gentleman who was kind, courteous and represented the best traditions of the Houses. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

The budget the Government introduced hit the lowest income groups hardest. People on domiciliary care and disability payments, the pension entitlements of a large number of women and those in receipt of family income supplement were savagely hit by the budget. Above all, the budget made a targeted, unnecessary and unacceptably harsh attack on lone parents which was initiated, endorsed and announced to the House at the time by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. Last evening, in debating the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, the Minister announced that section 4 was to stay. However, while she is not deleting or amending the section, she has attached to it a conditionality that, in essence, suggests the measure will not proceed unless she secures agreement from her Cabinet colleagues, the Ministers for Education and Skills and Children and Youth Affairs, with whom, according to her comments last night, she has not yet engaged on the issue, and, of course, the Minister for Finance. I do not know whether the Minister is a government within a government or a party within a party or whether the Tánaiste has particular difficulties with her. Is it really on that a Minister would introduce legislation on a conditional basis without having secured the agreement of her Cabinet colleagues? Why did she not see at budget time that it was unacceptable to reduce to seven years the age at which lone parent payments would cease and to have seven year olds at home on their own as the Government forced single parents and single women out to work? Why is it only now, after protests and people raising issues, that she has suddenly had a epiphany or revelation that the measure is wrong? She stated last night that she agreed with the proposition that the age of seven years was too young. I put it to the Tánaiste that this is hypocrisy at its worst on the part of the Minister.

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