Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I know Senator Wilson will agree with me but he finds it difficult to do so in front of his colleagues.

The needs of the less well off in society are a serious matter because such people suffered the most and carried the brunt of cutbacks in bad times when the economy was in trouble. Yet, when the economy was booming, they were forgotten by the Government. They were not given the same benefit. What is the point in talking about percentage increases when 10% of nothing is still nothing?