Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Deputy Joan Collins referred to the platform on which the Labour Party contested the last election. That platform included a commitment to protect basic social welfare rates, which I am pleased to say was done in the budget for this year. In addition, we ensured some 330,000 people on very low pay were taken out of the universal social charge net, which had an important impact for those affected. One of my first actions as Minister was to reinstate the minimum wage. We are in a period of unprecedented crisis in terms of the national finances, as a consequence of the collapse of the banking system. Our objective in the budget was to oversee with fairness and compassion and in a targeted way the distribution of the €20 billion plus we are spending on social protection. Deputy Collins might think that sum is not enough. The overriding objective in all of this is to get people back to work. That is why I reinstated the original level of the minimum wage, which the Deputy supported.

In regard to pensioners, our system of payments and supports for older people means that pensioners in this country are among the least at risk of poverty in the European Union. In fairness to it, Social Justice Ireland has fully acknowledge that in its reports.

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