David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the debate. Like most other Senators, I received approximately 20 submissions from Age Action Ireland, Action on Suicide, Chambers Ireland, the Carers Association and the Disability Federation of Ireland, which attended the Mansion House to point out that €83 million had disappeared while being redirected through the HSE. Several of the federation's members asked to have their stolen money returned to them. These are the types of issue we must address.

Dóchas, which represents 40 organisations, is reasonably satisfied that the 0.7% target for overseas development aid is still on track. I received a submission from the Irish Cancer Society — it is regrettable that only 50 cent has been added to each packet of cigarettes, since it could have been €2 — and Inclusion Ireland. As children with disabilities have a statutory entitlement to assessments by therapists and so on, therapists have been drawn away. As a consequence of these staffing restrictions, there is a serious lack of professionals to provide ongoing therapy. Each area has its own difficulties.

I also received submissions from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, the Irish Deaf Society, Focus Ireland, the IFA, the National Youth Council of Ireland, One Family, OPEN, Schizophrenia Ireland, the Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament, the Simon Community and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I am not an economist but I know one simple thing, that money is the symbolic representation of energy. In the old days one received a sack of corn if one worked for a farmer. One was then given a gold ducat, a ten bob note, a promissory note, then something else. The problem internationally is that the symbol has become detached from reality. We are now into international casino financing and I am disturbed that the Minister's colleague is considering licensing casinos and, in particular, making accessible to Irish gamblers the kind of terminals described throughout Europe as the crack cocaine of gambling.

I appeal to the Minister of State in respect of the 1% levy. It is a disgrace. Those of us here can afford it. I do not mind paying 2% but surely people earning under €35,000 should pay nothing at all. These people are already on the edge. Those earning between €35,000-50,000 should pay 0.5%. I have written to the Minister for Finance appealing to him and I will table a recommendation at the appropriate time. It is important to examine this and it would be very popular if the Minister agreed to it. I imagine the amount of money gained is quite small.

Let us consider the situation of the poor. Liquid fuels have risen by 47% in the past 12 months, other fuels by 39%, gas by 17-19% and the ESB seeks a 17% increase. In respect of food, in the 12 months to May the price of flour has risen 39%, bread by 17%, milk by 30%, butter by 17% and tea by 11%. That shows how near the margins are these people. I can suggest one practical measure from one of the briefings I was at, given by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It suggests front-loading the fuel allowance, especially for those using oil, who tend to be people in the country. I welcome the increase to €20 but oil companies will not deliver on the basis of that sum. If it is paid in two equal parts of €510 in October and then January it will cost the Exchequer nothing but will help the people involved.

The medical card situation regarding those over the age of 75 is a mess and should never have been implemented. I approve of means testing but, on the other hand, people have been seduced out of the VHI and are now dumped. They may not get cover again.

The merging of the rights agencies is a mean one because there are no savings. We know that the Combat Poverty Agency will be absorbed into the Office of Social Inclusion and will lose its independence and its capacity for independent research. There is no saving in this move. This month, a motion was passed in the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs asking that this would not be done. The Minister knows the text of this.

I refer to the Equality Authority and the Data Protection Commissioner, who are being decentralised. There is no saving. This is being done to deprive the poorest of the only voice they had and that is shameful. The Minister should examine this again.