Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this Private Members’ debate this evening. I congratulate Deputy Boyd Barrett on tabling the motion.

As the motion outlines, there has been an increase in inequality in society, in particular in terms of income inequality. One can see that in stark measure in terms of how much the gap is widening between those who have and those who have not. One of the outcomes of the austerity programme and the impact of the changes that have taken place since the crash is how a permanent change and shift has emerged in the sense that the top 1% will continue to gain and the bottom 50% will continue to lose. That situation will become embedded and enshrined right across society. The most telling aspect of the motion and the actions of the Government in the past four years, and the previous Government before it, is how the changes will become permanent.

Other speakers referred to the broad measures concerning the motion. In my contribution I wish to cite two examples of the impact austerity budgeting and austerity measures have had on people in recent years. Of note is how changes introduced in budgets two to three years ago are only now starting to impact. People could not foresee the impact of measures that would affect them down the line. Budget 2012 is probably one of the most stark examples of that phenomenon, whereby measures are now coming home to roost for one-parent families from July. In budget 2012 the Minister also made sweeping changes on entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit which impacts on casual workers and seasonal workers. People in south-west Donegal in particular are affected as traditionally, seasonal work in fish factories was and still is the only source of employment. Workers get periods of work of approximately four to five months in the year which previously entitled them to get jobseeker’s benefit for the rest of the year. However, because of changes to the qualifying criteria in budget 2012 workers involved in seasonal industries and sectors now find their entitlement to jobseeker's benefit is running out as those measures kicked in last autumn.

Many people have seen their income slashed because their entitlement to jobseeker's benefit has run out and they have had to go onto jobseeker's allowance. What has made it more stark is that jobseeker's allowance is means-tested, based on income over the previous 52 weeks, which leads to substantial cuts. This makes life very difficult for these workers who, through no fault of their own, are unable to get more sustainable or long-term work. They are totally dependent on the seasonal work available in the fishing industry. What is more frustrating for them is they have no chance of qualifying for jobseeker's benefit again, so they will be stuck on jobseeker's allowance the next time the seasonal work ends. This will have huge impacts across the board. It will increase poverty and dependency levels in south-west Donegal. This also has an impact on many part-time farmers who supplement their income with seasonal work. The changes will have a huge impact on them. These unforeseen consequences could not have been explained to people when the budget for 2012 was introduced because it takes several years for the impact to be felt. This is one of the most difficult aspects for the people to take. It is a sign of how the Government is ensuring these changes are permanent. It is also the sign of an attitude and ideology in the Government that if people are underworked or cannot avail of full-time work it is their own fault and they should be made to carry the can for it.

Another impact of the austerity measures can be seen in Letterkenny General Hospital, where 30 to 40 patients have been on trolleys every day for the past number of years. A total of 1,955 people are on waiting lists for inpatient treatment and thousands more are on waiting lists to see a consultant. This is a direct impact of the measures and cuts implemented in the health services. It has reached the stage where a consultant due to retire has left early because he was fed up with the situation. He could not do his job because of the impact of cuts. He should have been doing orthopaedic operations, such as hip and knee replacements, but he could not do so because no nurses or theatres were available. Operations are not taking place to save small amounts of money. Breast cancer treatment services in Letterkenny General Hospital are now under threat simply because of the cutbacks the Government is making in our health services. This example can be seen in every hospital in the country. It shows the impact of the austerity measures the Government is forcing on people.

The motion calls for budgetary measures to be subject to poverty and deprivation impact analyses before they are implemented. These should be carried out without delay, but no Government involving Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Labour Party will do so because it would mean they would have to stand over and explain the cuts they make. Until this is the case, we will not have fairness in society.

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