Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure if the Minister of State does not get it. I do not know if he does not care or if the Government does not care. I do not want to personalise this criticism to the Minister of State. It must be accepted across the political divide that those who are most in need are those who are on low incomes and those who are on social welfare fixed incomes. The Government has not responded by increasing core social welfare payments. That means the decision that has been made by the Government, with which it is satisfied for the next number of months, is that these families will become poor. Many of those families were already in poverty or at risk of poverty in the first place. Many are in homes that are poorly insulated and, therefore, have higher energy costs than many other homes. The Government is turning its face against an increase in social welfare payments. Let me be clear when I say I do not care if a social welfare Bill is required or a measure is introduced. What I want is the political will to do it. The legislative process is not blocking the Government making a change. There is a lack of political will on the part of the Minister of State and his Cabinet colleagues to actually understand that we need to target initiatives and interventions at those who are most in need.

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