Rónán Mullen (Independent)

In light of the Cabinet's meeting today to approve cuts in Government spending to save approximately €400 million, it would be timely that we would have an urgent debate on how in a time of crisis and cutbacks we would order our priorities.

On an international level, it is estimated by most informed commentators that the money promised at the Gleneagles summit by the G8 in 2003 — €50 billion to Africa and elsewhere by 2010 — will fall short by approximately €30 billion. This suggests that, internationally, there is great evidence of selfishness among the richer governments of the world. When it comes to making priorities, the poorest of the world's poor are not top of the list.

Domestically, we also need to ask ourselves where will we make the Government cutbacks. Will we make them in such a way that the most vulnerable in our society suffer? Our colleague, Senator Mary White, in her report What We Can Do About Suicide in the New Ireland, makes the point today that there is a shortfall in the money made available to the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The estimated €3.5 million for this year falls short by approximately €2 million of what it was recommended it get a couple of years ago. The Abbey Theatre is getting ten times that amount — I do not grudge it that amount — but I worry about whether at a time like this the influential people will still get what they want and the most powerless and the most vulnerable will be the most easily excised from the list of priorities.