Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister's decision not to reduce the level of social welfare payments.

It is expected that prices will reduce by 4% this year instead of increasing by 2.5%. The Government expects to see reductions of 10% in the cost of electricity and gas. This means we can buy more with the same money than we could a year ago. The removal of the December bonus social welfare payment, as referred to by the previous speaker, is regrettable.