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

It is the usual performance in this Chamber and sometimes one wonders whether it is worthwhile to ask any question. The Tánaiste naturally blames the world markets for the increases in prices and while that is well and good, the Government's response to increased costs has been to cut supports to needy families by cutting the fuel allowance, the free units of electricity and the household packages. The Government has deliberately and knowingly cut heating supports. It is known that cold-related conditions mean additional winter deaths. This policy is an act of social vandalism and is a matter of life and death. Must Members wait until there are more elderly deaths before finding out what is the exact position? Will the Tánaiste answer my question now? As the Tánaiste does not know the answer, will he ask the Central Statistics Office, for instance, together with the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland, to ascertain how many deaths the Government's cuts have caused since it came to power in 2011? I again ask the Tánaiste whether the Government will reverse the huge cuts that have taken place over the past three years and for which it is responsible?

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