Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

We must have a debate in the House soon about the very real divisions that are emerging in our society and the disconnect between what happens in here and the experience of people in the general public and how they think. The huge mistake and injustice in yesterday's budget is the reduction of pay for people earning under €30,000 per annum. That is very wrong. It is wrong as an incentive to employment as these people are close to the same income as those on social welfare. That issue is worthy of debate in the context of a debate on unemployment. There is huge unfairness, injustice and discrimination in that decision. I believe it is the grenade that will explode. It is equivalent to the decision on medical cards for the over 70s last year.