Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Whether she calls them "primary" or "headline" rates, her commitment not to cut them is not, in reality, of much benefit to people on social welfare if she cuts the non-headline and non-primary rates. A cut in the fuel allowance has the same impact on recipients as a cut in the primary rate of social welfare. It might look better in the newspapers and members of the Government might be able to spin it to imply they have kept their promise, but the individuals in question end up with less money. With regard to the cuts in rent allowance, it was supposed that the landlords would all jog along and cut their rents, but they have not done so. Claiming that headline or primary rates of social welfare have not been cut means nothing because the Minister is actually cutting the amount of money per week that people have to live on. I thank her for the lecture on how the economy is working and the amount being expended on social welfare, but the reality is that those people on social welfare can barely survive. If the Minister cuts their rates, whatever sort of spin she wants to put on it, this will leave them in an even more dire situation.

Deputy O'Dea pointed out the facts from the Irish League of Credit Unions survey. It has been quoted so much at this stage that it is putting Shakespeare into second place for quotable documents in this place. Unfortunately, no matter how often we quote it, the Minister does not seem to listen. Either that or she does not believe the survey. Her cuts, whatever she calls them, are having the same impact.

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