Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I shall make just one brief point. I appeal to the Leader to invite a Minister or a Minister of State to the House in order that we may impress upon him or her the imperative that we do not attack those on social welfare in the forthcoming budget. This would not be acceptable, given that the long-term unemployed and pensioners have already seen a 5% reduction in their rates following the abolition of the Christmas bonus last year. Any debate on the budget must centre on the issue of job protection and especially job creation because every job loss costs the Exchequer, in social welfare payments and lost taxation revenue, around €20,000 per annum. Job creation, therefore, must be at the core of the economic debate and argument. We cannot take anymore from those who are barely existing on €196 a week.