Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Willie O’Dea can have lots of views and condemn everything. However, he has to remember that it was Fianna Fáil that cut the weekly social welfare payment, blind pension and carer’s allowance by €16.40. Admittedly, it was during hard times, but have I heard one word of an apology from the Deputy? Is there one word about restoration?

Fianna Fáil had a miserable social welfare package. I compliment it on keeping within the obligations of the budgetary financial structures. It is being a responsible party in that respect. However, it cannot lay responsibility on everybody else for its less than fantastic package. Its finance spokesperson accepted the financial structures to get the country back on the road and meet our obligations under the financial arrangements with the European Union. Deputy Willie O’Dea, however, does not refer to this, but, instead, criticises the Labour Party for it. The worst cuts made by the former Fianna Fáil Government were to blind pension and carer’s allowance by €16.40 a week. When will we ever hear the Deputy promising to restore any of this sum?

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