Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I put it to the Minister that this country can only survive the economic collapse if attention is paid to solidarity. This savage cut, which continues on from where Fianna Fáil left off, represents an enormous slap in the face for young people. It is basically telling them to get lost. It tells them to emigrate and go elsewhere and that they are not needed here.

To date, we have seen no evidence of any kind of inter-generational solidarity within Irish society. Those who are better off - the middle-aged, middle-class element of Irish society - has, by and large, pulled the ladder up after it. There is huge bitterness among the younger generation about what this country has done to them and their future. The Minister is compounding that. I appeal to her to listen to those organisations that have been working with young people who know what they are dealing with. These are organisations like the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, Focus Ireland and the National Youth Council of Ireland. I appeal to her to hold back on this and not to damage our young people's future hopes in the way she proposes to do. It is wrong and I believe she knows it is wrong. She should not be doing it.

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