Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice to this debate today. The Bill is well meaning and it is lovely when they are in opposition, but when Labour Party Members had a chance in government, what did they do? They attacked the very weakest with what they did with the women's pension and the death grant. They were supposed to be representing the working people but they did nothing. That being said, we have a new poor, the working poor, and it is very difficult for them. None of the legislation we are passing here is poverty proofed. It is impacting greatly on those on lower incomes.

The policies of this Government and the previous Government, but especially this one, are putting punitive penalties on top of ordinary people who cannot afford them. The Government seems to be blindfolded and aghast. It is getting support from many of the so-called left-wing parties. I am talking about carbon tax and many other areas. They are blindly doing this for the sake of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. They want us to believe climate change. We are not denying it.

The people cannot live. They have a choice between eating or heating their houses. They cannot drive a car; they do not even have a car. We must think of the small business people who also deserve a chance to be supported and not to be strangled with legislation. There is no impact analysis whatsoever of the likely impact on small self-employed people who want to give jobs to people. They want to look after their employees, and the vast majority of them do.

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