Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am afraid that is not a satisfactory position. The Taoiseach and I worked together for five years and even in the worst of times, we did not publish a budget document without knowing the precise figures. The Government has published tables that will be debated in the House. There is a cost involved for every week a payment is made. Will all the increases in social welfare benefits be paid in the same week? Will recipients of the pension, the blind pension, disability benefit and carer's allowance receive increases on the same day or will the increases be staggered? Alternatively, are all these matters still under discussion? If the latter is the case, it would be an unacceptable situation. Before the House embarks on the budget debate in a few minutes, Deputies need to know the dates on which social welfare increases are to be made.

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