Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

The Minister is correct that the period referenced in the Social Justice Ireland report is 2009 to 2010. She chose, however, to ignore that organisation's observation that current Government policy is making the situation worse. The Minister cannot hide behind Fianna Fáil forever. That party ruined this country, but it is the Minister's job now to protect those who require protection. She has it in her gift to restore people's confidence in the Government. People need protection, not compassion. Will she put in place audits in regard to gender, poverty, impact on children and so on in advance of the cutbacks of more than €3.9 billion that will be introduced in the next budget? It is worth bearing in mind that in 1945, under Churchill, the British establishment created the National Health Service at a time when that country's debt to GDP ratio was 240%.

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