Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, we do need to protect workers, but we have to do that working with the social partners in an intelligent way. The Government will be up for that in terms of how to do that, but it has to be done in a manner that protects disposable incomes and enables people to be in a position to access the necessities of life in terms of food, shelter, fuel and all the basics. That is why in the health area this year in the budget we increased eligibility for GP care from 6 years of age to 7. That means a lot to families. The drugs payment scheme, DPS, threshold is going from €114 down to €100. There is free contraception for particular cohorts. Children's hospital charges are being reduced. There are mechanisms by which we can help people in terms of their everyday expenses, but we also had a tax package in the last budget of about €520 million. We also did social protection measures that were targeted. We look at the Vincentian model, for example, as a mechanism. There are ideas there that could help us to target whatever resources we have in the right direction.

See this speech in context