Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I must disagree with my learned colleague, Senator Cummins. Today and yesterday have been very important days. There is a key message we need to send out from the House, and I would like it to be a united message. The Government has a great determination to stabilise our public finances, to keep people at work and to improve the skills of those who have lost their jobs. I ask Senator Cummins and others to consider the seriousness of the situation and the clear determination of those in authority to help us through this difficult time.

I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to ensure adequate supports are in place for people who have lost their jobs, especially in the form of services such as the money advice and budgeting service, MABS, whose work is of great value. The mortgage interest supplement is under pressure. The number of people claiming mortgage interest allowance in December 2008 was nearly double the number claiming in December 2006. This is putting huge pressure on people in terms of the funds required. We are talking about the difference between keeping and losing one's home. Because of that, I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister the need to ensure adequate funds are in place for people in this risk category.