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

It is well portrayed in Oliver Twist. We are almost back to the era of the workhouse, given that one must either take what is offered even if it means one is disadvantaged by it or else face sanctions. It is a throwback to the 1834 Poor Law (Amendment) Act. The last people I would expect to introduce a reverse into such a system is the Labour Party in government.

Any government in a democracy, regardless of its ideology, should be concerned about a widening of inequality. As I demonstrated, poverty is widely spread and very deep in this country, in particular among certain sections of the population. The English politician Joseph Chamberlain, who was a radical in his time but was far from being a Marxist, said on taking office, "My aim in life is to make life pleasanter for this great majority; I do not care if it becomes in the process less pleasant for the well-to-do minority". If that had been the policy of the Government, in particular the Labour section of the Government, for the past five years, this would be a fairer, better and more just society.

The Minister for Social Protection has consistently claimed that during her tenure, in her term of office of almost five years, she has made a difference. I agree with that. She certainly has made a difference. She has insulted the young, in particular young jobseekers, she has penurised the elderly, ignored the claims of carers , widows and the disabled, for whom nothing was done in the budget. She has introduced a social welfare system which would be the envy of the old Russian KGB. She has contrived to totally ignore the looming pension crisis for which she has departmental responsibility. She has contributed significantly to a system where the gap between rich and poor has widened inexorably in the past five years.

When I spoke on the equivalent Bill last year I left the last word to Social Justice Ireland. I am tired of quoting Social Justice Ireland; it has been so critical of the Minister, and I feel that I am echoing myself, so on this occasion I will leave the last word to the sagacious Marge Simpson who said, “I guess one person can make a difference. But most of the time, they probably shouldn't".

See this speech in context