Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

These are the Fianna Fáil politics of old, which the Government promised to banish. We know how these promises worked out in practice. Will the Tánaiste commit to prioritising the reversal of cuts in social services and welfare payments before any consideration of tax cuts is made by the Government? That is essential following on from the MABS report. People should not have to go with a begging bowl. They should be able to maintain their dignity in securing an income to be able to live. Does the Tánaiste find it incredible that Ministers are talking about income tax cuts when the HSE is talking about shedding 700 jobs a month to come within budget, a budget which has been savaged for the past six years? The Minister of Health is looking for €1.4 billion just to maintain current health service provision.

Will the Government parties start considering the restoration of the Christmas bonus to welfare claimants and the reversal of cuts that have seriously affected people with disabilities? Will they examine the situation where only 16% of women are entitled to the full State contributory old age pension? Will the Tánaiste bring in the home-maker's credit scheme, which she promised to do when she changed the eligibility criteria for old age pensions? She claims we are at the end of austerity budgets and has come to the House with growth figures from the CSO. Few people will feel a benefit from this when they get their water tax bill next year. It has been claimed by some Ministers that tax cuts will put €5 or €10 extra in people's pockets, but that money will be taken directly out of their pockets through another austerity tax, the water charge. Will the Tánaiste make it clear to citizens that she will prioritise those people who have felt the austerity attack most?

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