Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A few budgets ago, in the deepest darkest days of austerity, the Fine Gael-Labour Government cut the jobseeker's payment for people under the age of 26. This was not just a very low blow to unemployed people at a time when jobs were particularly scarce, it was also a direct attack on the young adults of Ireland. It was a loud and clear message from the Government to the generation that had been failed by Fianna Fáil, by the policies it cheer-led and by the bailout plan followed dutifully by that party. The message said to young people "Get out, we do not want you and if you do not leave you had better be prepared to bend the knee, doff the cap and prostrate yourself before exploiters who refuse to pay a decent or even a legal wage." What followed was the arrival of yellow pack and unpaid work in its droves. To be more correct this was not work; it gave no dignity and rewarded barely survival. It was drudgery. That was what was offered to the young people of Ireland who had their future pissed away by the Seanie Fitzes and their Fianna Fáil buddies. The Government cut the telephone allowance, the bereavement grant and household benefit. Now they would have us think the good times are rolling in again. Well certainly the other side of the Chamber must think the good times are rolling. The Government thinks it is time to cut taxes for high earners, time to give back more USC to the better off - who are probably more liable - than to the worse off and time to cut capital gains tax which is a tax most people in the State would never be lucky enough to even have the chance to pay, unlike the Government's cronies who get crafty accountants to weasel them out of paying it.

The Members of the elite who make up this House, who already earn far above the average wage before expenses are even considered, have arranged a handsome pay rise for themselves of €100 per week, and it was spoken much of this week. What have young people and pensioners got to celebrate in these times of glory? Nothing. The Government has given them a measly fiver and €2.70 a week, respectively. That could probably cover a pint or a takeaway coffee. You are very generous. Surely this is a welfare state that typifies human dignity; pensioners left scraping to survive and the young unemployed left to live in despair or debase themselves for a zero hour contract to drudge, where the best they can hope for is minimum wage-----

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