Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to speak on this important motion on the vital contribution carers make to the social and economic life of the nation. Some people are under the impression that the debate on carers, the disabled, senior citizens and the cut to the respite care grant is over. It is not. I will continue to fight and fight until carers get justice and equality. The respite care grant cut was a national disgrace. Any Deputy who supported it should hang his or her head in shame. It was wrong, wrong, wrong, and no weasel words will change my mind. To take money from those families was mean and a grave injustice. If we lived in a real democratic and inclusive republic, this cut would not have been made. Many Independent Deputies made other funding proposals, including some made tonight.

It was disgraceful and eternally shameful of the Labour Party and Members like Deputies Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Seán Kenny to support this cut-----

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