Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

This social welfare Bill will go down in history as the harshest and cruellest of them all. I ask the Minister how, in God's name, she can consider she is incentivising young people in taking 50% of their payment from them. Why does she think pensioners have not been affected? She has said they have been protected. What a very nice word to use when, in fact, they have lost their Christmas bonus which amounted to a figure of 2%. As a result of the carbon tax, they will pay an extra €2.40 on a bag of coal and an extra 50 cent on a bale of briquettes, not to mention the fact that they face a 50 cent charge on prescriptions, plus all of the other cuts in optical and dental benefits.

I ask the Minister to be honest. She is glossing over the Bill and using sanctimonious sentiments when, in fact, she is being extraordinarily harsh and callous. How can she take €8.80 from carers and say it must be done for the greater good? It would have been preferable to take money from all of us here than from them, the people who are saving the Exchequer money by keeping people out of hospital and institutions. In return, we have cut their allowance by €8.80 per week. It is an outrage. If I were the Minister, I would not be saying I had done a good job.

Funding for Youthreach and VTOS programmes is being cut, yet the Minister says she is incentivising young people. This is an emigration budget which will drive young people out of the country.

We have spent a long time debating the cut in dental benefits. People do not know yet what is ahead of them. However, when they do, the Government will be criticised for the rest of its time in office for being so heartless and cruel. I rest my case. I ask the Minister not to use rhetoric that is patronising and disrespectful to the people.