Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews. The two previous speakers could swap speeches in six months' time if they swap sides of the House. That is what we will see in the future.

Everyone recognised these were difficult times for the Government and hard decisions would have to be taken. The Government has taken them. In fairness to it, the fact the focus of Opposition speeches has been tightly confined to a number of points reflects fairly well on it. However, it should look at them anew. What drives people to distraction is that if the people about whom we are talking - in my case, the carers and the blind - had a strong enough influence, they would be listened to. The reaction of the Government to the debacle in the banks in the past two days is a classic example of what I am talking about. Instead of Governments running in front of public opinion, they should listen to see if there is an argument and if it can be moved forward.

Last week I said I would support the Government's budgetary proposals as far as I could because I could see from where it was coming and knew it would be difficult. However, I find myself in an impossible position when it comes to carers and blind people. I heard the Minister say there are issues here and that he is not too comfortable with them, etc. I said I could have lived with the taxation of children's allowance because the objective of social welfare is give to those who need it and to take from those who do not. That is what we are trying to achieve.

The Minister has had to take hard decisions but could he revisit two of them? There are many things I do not like but I know the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, who sits at the Cabinet table, will have heard the arguments and will know that hard decisions had to be taken, that the members of the Cabinet had to vote for things with which they were not comfortable. I heard the Minister and various members of the Government defend the fact old age pensions were not touched and they made a very compelling case. However, blind people have other problems, in particular looking after a guide dog. I do not know if the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, has any cats or dogs which he must look after but it is a very expensive operation. Even feeding a guide dog can cost a lot of money for someone on a restricted budget. I cannot table an amendment because we are unable to table amendments which impose a cost. However, I ask the Minister to consider giving back what has been taken from the blind pension to those who have a guide dog. It would be a gesture that would be useful and practical. Blind people have to care for their guide dogs as the dogs are their eyes. The Minister does not appear to have a closed mind. He referred to a system of grading. I, therefore, ask for an allowance for those members of the blind community who have a guide dog.

I refer to carers. If there was ever a group who have done the State some service, it is the people about whom I speak. I refer to the programme carried on RTE last night about the care of the aged which I did not see in its entirety. It must be acknowledged that caring for the aged is very difficult. With the best will in the world, dny family member who has had to care for an elderly relative would express his or her frustration. It is a continuous commitment. We should recognise that carers need support, counselling and advice. It is very difficult for them to continue in what is an almost impossible situation. Taking money from them is unconscionable and we should not do it.

In justification for not touching the old age pension, the Minister said people of that age did not have a choice or an option and that they had contributed throughout their lives. These are very compelling arguments and I compliment Ministers on not touching it. A few weeks ago I asked that the old age pension in its various forms should not be touched. I am glad the Government managed to get through the budget without changing it.

I again ask the Minister to look at the two areas I have highlighted. Any of us who have relatives who are blind will understand more than most how dependent they are on the support they receive in the world around them. I ask the Minister to consider offering support for the upkeep of guide dogs which is expensive as it includes visits to the vet a couple of times a year, meeting various dietary needs which is not cheap, as well as regular medication. The Minister could make a reimbursement on the production of invoices.