Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Very good. I thank Deputy Finian McGrath and the Technical Group for allowing me some of their speaking time, which I appreciate. A Deputy who has since left the Chamber pointed over here and accused people of displaying mock outrage at this budget. In his absence I will say this: For a Deputy who could not deliver a scratch to an itch to come in here and accuse us of mock outrage is a disgrace. Let him go back to his constituency and let him explain the budget to elderly people who are worried tonight about whether they will have enough money next week or whether their medical cards will cover their medication and trips to the doctor. The medical cards issue is one of the biggest outrages of this budget. The Government has indicated it will take €113 million in savings from medical cards, despite the fact that medical cards are already being reviewed, refused and taken from people who have had them for many years. They are being withdrawn from people who had them already, and now we are told there is another €113 million of savings to be made. If a medical card costs an average of €1,000 per year, how many medical cards will be taken from the system? These people will be left unable to take care of their medical needs.

The cut to the telephone allowance was low and mean. It is not just that people may lose their telephones, but in many instances - as Deputy McGrath has already pointed out - they may lose their alarm pendants. How will people have connectivity with their neighbours and family members so they can contact them if they are in trouble?

There has also been a cut to maternity benefit. Before children are born at all they are now being cut by the Government. When they die they are also being cut, because the Government has had the cheek and audacity to do away with the bereavement grant. Good God, how low could they possibly go?

I refer to young people having their jobseeker's allowance cut. That is the reason I christened this budget the Ryanair budget - the Government wants to hound the under 25 age group out of this country, sending them away on flights, getting rid of them.

Another important issue that cannot be overlooked is the cutting of sick benefit, with the first couple of days being extended to six days. This means that for struggling families who have only one income, if the income earner becomes sick and is unable to go to work and is not working in a State job, the employer will not pay him or her for being sick - a small employer could not afford to do so - so that family will be left with no income of any kind. Did the Ministers sitting around the Cabinet table have any comprehension of what they were doing, and what it would mean for people? It beggars belief.

On a positive note, it is 100% welcome that the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector is being retained. That is due to the campaign, however. Let us remember it is only a week or ten days since the Minister for Finance stated publicly it was his intention not to retain the rate. I applaud all the people involved in the business, and the politicians on this side of the House, who campaigned vigorously and put their shoulders to the wheel. It was a massive effort. Had the Government been awake, this was a no-brainer from the start. The system is self-financing because keeping the rate at 9% creates jobs and keeps people at work. It was the campaign, the people on this side of the House and the actual sector, that shoved it on.

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