The commitment to reducing consistent poverty is probably stronger in this budget than in previous years. Social welfare expenditure in 2003 exceeds by €4.5 billion the 1997 figure and I do not understand how anyone can say that is not a benefit to those on low incomes. It is almost double the level set by the Labour Party and Fine Gael when last they were in Government. As a result of changes made in last year's budget, all weekly social welfare increases will be paid from 1 January. This means that increases will be paid to those who depend on them more than five months earlier than they were when those Opposition parties last held office.