Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is a pity the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, could not hang around. Given that this opportunity was provided as a new and innovative way of addressing the Government's programme, it is a pity she could not wait to hear a response to what she had to say. Little of her contribution had to do with social protection. In fact, much of it had to do with issues in her previous brief of finance spokesperson on the Opposition benches. Perhaps there is a reshuffle in the offing. I heard her bluffing earlier. She seemed to forget the much trumpeted promise she had made in the programme for Government to protect the most vulnerable in society and maintain core social welfare rates. When one considers that she has been targeting the sick, I do not know how she can say she has managed to protect the most vulnerable. She first cut illness benefit by taxing it and then by doubling the number of days a sick person was left without payment, from three days to six, which represents a cut of €112.80. Just because one is sick does not mean that one's mortgage payments or other household outgoings disappear or are reduced. If anything, the opposite is the case. One's utility bills often rise owing to the need to heat one's home or go to the doctor to obtain a certificate which can cost up to €70 and that is before one must pay for the additional drugs because one is sick.

The Minister also discontinued many elements of the treatment benefits scheme. She reduced the frequency of hearing tests, from once every two years to one every four years, and the amount of the grant for hearing aids by one third. Like the sleeveen that she is, she quietly closed off the diet supplement scheme.

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