Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the Government came to power, the Taoiseach proclaimed we would have a democratic revolution. I could use many words to describe the Taoiseach, but he is certainly not the leader of a democratic revolution. Over the past 20 months, what we have seen is not a democratic revolution but a seamless transition of power from Fianna Fáil to Fine Gael and the Labour Party. There is very little difference between the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, produced by Fianna Fáil in the dying days of the last government, and the programme being rolled out by the two parties in government currently. I checked the Fianna Fáil programme in recent days and was amazed by the similarities between it and the current programme.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party are happily implementing the policies contained in the old Fianna Fáil programme. They are introducing water meters, water charges and a household charge of €100 per annum, which will from next year, as a property tax, bring in €500 million per annum. All of these measures were invented by Fianna Fáil but are being implemented by the current Government. Fianna Fáil committed to cutting staffing levels in the public service. Fine Gael and the Labour Party have gone further.

The Labour Party has failed those who voted for it. It has failed to introduce the transformative change the Tánaiste promised before it came into power. Particular issues that have met fierce resistance are the proposed water charges and household tax. In case Labour Party members have forgotten what they stated in their manifesto last year, they said that the Labour Party does not favour water charges while the immediate needs of those who currently receive intermittent or poor water supplies are not addressed. However, now that the party is in government, things are different. It now proposes to use the National Pensions Reserve Fund to install water meters for each household so that households can be charged for water. In reality, the Labour Party has been willing to support two budgets that have been regressive, divisive and unjust.

In commenting on last year's budget, the ESRI stated that a combination of taxes and welfare changes imposed greater losses on those on lower incomes. According to groups commenting this year, the same is due to happen again. Promises not to cut child benefit were trampled on in the rush to get around the Cabinet table. Meanwhile, this year's budget has brought further cuts and pain for the low- and middle-income households.

A Labour Party member, former councillor Bronwyn Maher, addressing a party meeting in Liberty Hall last Saturday, said: "The budget was not fair or equal, and has disproportionately affected the lower paid." I could not have put it better myself. In a desperate attempt to reclaim some dignity, some Labour Party Deputies are writing to constituents saying that it was a priority to ensure the budget was as fair as possible under the economic circumstances, and that those who have the most will pay the most. That is not how it has turned out. It has turned out the very opposite. In all seriousness, one could hardly remain straight-faced saying that. It is a desperate attempt by a desperate Government to try spin its way out of trouble.

The uncomfortable truth those on the Government benches must own up to is that the cuts in budget 2013 are there for all to see. Jobseeker's allowance has been cut to nine months. Respite care, child benefit, back-to-school clothing allowance and farm assist payments for the lowest-income farmers have all been cut. Educational allowances for those returning to education have also been cut. Cuts have also been made to exceptional needs payments, telephone and gas allowances, funding for third level education and funding for VECs, which are currently operating on a shoestring. PRSI has increased for the low-paid and increases have been announced in college fees, motor tax and VRT. All of these cuts and increased charges punish low- and middle-income groups.

Under the Labour Party and Fine Gael, no one earning less than €100,000 was supposed to pay more income tax. This Labour Party election promise has been shredded. Next year, those earning the least will have to pay more from their incomes because of increased PRSI. This will place a huge burden on low-income households. The combination of cuts and increased taxes will put a huge burden on people, particularly those in rural areas. People in urban areas already feel the pinch because they have been hit with increased transport costs. I call on the Government to sit up and take note of what it is doing, as it is very difficult for us to have confidence when we see what is happening.

Let me highlight one issue under the remit of a Labour Party Minister which is causing difficulties: SUSI, which deals with the allocation and administration of third level grants. Sinn Féin has been trying to phone the Oireachtas helpline with regard to this issue. This helpline is not the one used by the general public, so things must be much worse for them. We have spent the past three or four days trying to ring the helpline, but we cannot get an answer. The mailbox is full and we cannot send mail. We can get no answers on an issue as basic as this. The previous system was administered by county councils and VECs and although it was not perfect and needed improvement, it functioned. Now there is total failure. We cannot get a response on the phone, the mailbox is full, and the first term is almost over for students.

We cannot have confidence in the Government when it has failed to deal with bank debt and the mortgage crisis and to implement a strategy for jobs and sustainable growth. The Government has passed its sell-by date.

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