Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The questions asked are about whether the programme for Government will be revised. Does the Taoiseach agree that the policy of the Government on austerity is fundamental to any answer to those questions? The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, has said that while we have reached the limits of austerity, there still appears to be an inexplicable preference for loading the costs of banking crises squarely onto the shoulders of ordinary people and small businesses. She is a member of the Government, bound by collective responsibility. Is she stating the view of the Government and is it the Taoiseach's view? Does not her statement call for an immediate review of the programme for Government, which envisaged at least four years of the austerity which has proved to be a nightmare for ordinary people? If austerity has reached its limits - and it has - and the Minister for Social Protection is not merely posturing, does it not mean that the further austerity measures in the pipeline should be abandoned forthwith? Does it not mean there should be no more cuts in social protection?

The property tax represents the equivalent of a week's income for low-paid workers and much more than that for many people on social welfare. The power to rob people's wages and bank accounts has been given to the Revenue Commissioners. Does not the Minister for Social Protection's statement imply that the policy should be abolished? It means the cut of €300 million this year which will affect low-income, middle-income and frontline workers in the public service should be abolished. Does the Taoiseach agree that it would be highly cynical if a member of the Government made such a statement and was afforded acres of print in the capitalist media if it was mere posturing and a vain attempt to rescue credibility for a rapidly sinking Labour Party? Does he agree that if there is any credibility to the statement, it signals a change of Government policy? What changes will the Taoiseach announce today in view of the statement by a member of his Government?

This is the first time I have seen the Minister for Social Protection in the House during questions to the Taoiseach, which leads me to question whether she is practising to be Tánaiste or if the Taoiseach ordered her to attend for his announcement of a major change in policy in line with her suggestion to end austerity.

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