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

While the drop in youth unemployment is welcome, it is not solely due to this measure. There was a time before 2009 when, on turning 18, claimants were paid a rate of social welfare, namely, jobseeker's allowance, that was equivalent to what everybody else got. That was changed, initially in 2009 by a Government which was led by Fianna Fáil and of which I remember being a member. I remember well the arguments to and fro and the rationale that was advanced, but it did not achieve what was forecast. While in other countries, such as the UK, there was a differential between people of different ages, I do not think that the objectives were achieved, insofar as I can recall them being outlined during the debate around the Cabinet table. Circumstances have since changed dramatically. What is the rationale for maintaining this distinction?

See this speech in context