Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

In reply to Senator's Brady question as to why we cannot accept the information on inflation in good faith, since we get it from the consumer price index, that is hardly the point. If, in legislation, there is an effective mechanism for reporting to both Houses, it means that something will result from it.

Three years ago the annual increase given to social welfare recipients was only 50% of the inflation level applying to the general cost of living at that time. There was massive inflation over a six-month period. I understand that the argument was made at the Cabinet table by the then Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, that he needed more funding for his Department to ensure that people's basic standard of living could be sustained for that six-month period. A provision in the Bill for a reporting mechanism to both Houses would ensure we could put pressure on the Minister and her Cabinet colleagues to find more money. That is the objective.