Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I also support the call for an urgent debate on the Cloyne report next Tuesday. It is an urgent matter that affects many vulnerable individuals in society. We should hold such a debate next week to show the true value and potential of this House in discussing important matters.

I support Senator Thomas Byrne's call for an urgent debate on the social welfare cuts to be introduced by the Labour Party Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. It is outrageous that the most vulnerable in society will have to face such cuts at a difficult economic time for them. It is disingenuous for any Government representative to say the cuts are being imposed as a result of the conditions attached to the EU-IMF bailout. As we all know, with no assistance from the Government, the Fianna Fáil grouping, including Senators Darragh O'Brien and Thomas Byrne, met the troika officials this week. They made it abundantly clear that no straight-jacket was being imposed on policy issues or financial decisions, that it was solely a matter for the Government to decide. It is, therefore, disingenuous for the Government or the Minister to say the conditions attached to the EU-IMF bailout are setting the parameters. It is a political decision by the Labour Party and Fine Gael to cut social welfare jpayments; therefore, they should not try to blame others outside the country for such decisions.

We should have a debate on the overall social welfare budget to see how the most vulnerable can be protected. What steps are the Labour Party and the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, taking to protect them? If those on low incomes are to be affected by social welfare reductions, is that not an indication that the most vulnerable will not be protected? In a few weeks the House will rise for the summer recess, but I hope a debate can be facilitated on the overall social welfare budget before then.