Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Excuse me. I am asking the Minister about her role in government. The Labour Party came into government based on votes from people to whom they promised they would not cut core social welfare rates. The Minister is well aware that everybody who is in receipt of a carer's allowance is automatically entitled to the respite care grant. Thus, when the respite care grant is cut, that represents a cut in the core rate of social welfare. Regardless of how the Minister juggles it up, that is the reality.

At the time the former chairperson of the Labour Party, Deputy Keaveney, voted against the cut in the respite care grant, other members of the Labour Party who were also wrestling with their consciences publicly thought they would be able to persuade the Minister to take on board their suggestions to alleviate the effects of that cut. There was a Seanad debate on the issue, at which various suggestions were put forward. I know the Minister is aware of those suggestions. Is it her intention to turn them all down? Is it her intention to set her face against those suggestions, which were by implication promised to members of the Labour Party in return for their support in getting the Social Welfare Bill through?

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