Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

This is a deeply unfair and shameful budget that attacks the most vulnerable in society. It hits the poorest people by hitting the working poor, middle Ireland, the elderly and children. The Government refused to go with the alternative of taxing high earners and preferred to attack the most vulnerable. The most shameful cut is the attack on children. Central Statistics Office figures indicate that 200,000 children live in poverty and 500 children are homeless. However, the Minister for Social Protection - an odd title - has cut €10 from the first and second child, €18 from the third child and, from 1 January 2014, €30 from the fourth child. That is against a background of Labour in government. During the 2011 general election campaign the Labour Party had an advertisement claiming it would protect child benefit because it had already been cut by too much. It stated: "Labour is against Fine Gael's latest proposal to cut child benefit by €252 p.a. for the average family. Families need Labour in Government."

See this speech in context