Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. That the social policy committee has met only twice sums up the orientation of Government policy. The social policy committee exists to oversee the broad thrust of the Government's decisions in this area. An objective assessment of the past three budgets by the ESRI and others clearly demonstrates that they have been weighted against the weaker sections of society, including those on the lowest incomes and the most vulnerable. The budgets have been fundamentally regressive and unfair. That the committee has met only twice is a factor in all this.

In recent weeks, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, launched a media campaign to present themselves as the leaders of a clampdown on welfare abuse. The Taoiseach published a major article on this. He said he personally was driving forward this agenda. While everybody supports attempts to deal with fraud in the social welfare system, we should be honest and realise this campaign is more about politics than substance.

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