Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senators Darragh O'Brien, Thomas Byrne, Brian Ó Domhnaill, Jim D'Arcy and others called for a debate on social welfare payments. Apart from the EU-IMF deal, the country is spending €18 billion more than it is taking in. Householders must run their affairs properly and that is what the Government is setting about doing. This is long overdue and the Government will do so in the fairest possible way.