Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister has confirmed that she regards pensioners are more important than others. That is some progress. Do I take the Minister's reply to mean that jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, carer's allowance, family income supplement and disability allowance come within the ambit of core rates? The Minister was widely quoted in the media at the weekend as giving an unequivocal commitment that core rates would be maintained. I did not see a denial of that from the Minister. That is the story that was published. The Minister gave a commitment to a group, in the presence of the media, that core social welfare rates would be maintained. Why does the Minister say no decisions have been taken? Last Friday, she gave the people the impression that decisions had been taken.

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