Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The position is that when we considered the possibility of increasing benefits for a range of social protection recipients, I had a very strong view that increases should apply universally across the sector and that nobody should be left out. Obviously, the extent and range of the increases cover a substantial number of people and will generate a substantial bill. A €5 increase for pensioners is better than indexation and the €5 increase in other payments, including those to widows, blind people, the unemployed, the disabled and persons in receipt of invalidity benefits, is a little better than indexation would deliver. The payments will be made across the month of March and the matter will be dealt with in detail by the Minister for Social Protection when the social welfare Bill is published. That is the position as of now.

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