Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

This section concerns child benefit. I called this budget draconian and callous when I spoke on Second Stage because it proposes to take €16 per month from children. We have spoken about the compensatory allowance to help children and families on social welfare. This is the only payment directly to children. From my perspective as a parent, I used this money to educate and clothe the children. It was certainly not for luxuries.

I accept that the amount has increased dramatically over the years but we had much money in our country. Why should we not have used the money to educate and benefit our children? My question has remained consistent throughout the debate on this Bill. Why do children and the most vulnerable have to pay the price for the boom being blown when they had nothing to do with it?

The number of children in consistent poverty indicates the importance of child benefit because it goes directly to children. There are many cases where this was the only benefit which went to women, no matter how much money was going into a household. I hate to say this because I am surrounded by my wonderful male colleagues but there are mean-spirited men. This money kept the wolf from the door and was available to families who needed support.

It was part of the Fine Gael budget proposal that child benefit would not be touched. We have had to endure years of Fine Gael being accused of taking the shilling from the old-age pensioner. This will go down in history as the cruellest and most callous of all cuts.