Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Is trua nach bhfuil níos mó Seanadóirí anseo le bheith ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht tábhachtach agus suimiúil seo. Is mór agam deis a bheith agam ceist a chur, cé gur trua é nach bhfuil deis againn ráiteas a dhéanamh mar tá polasaithe Shinn Féin iontach difriúil de pháirtí ar bith eile sa Teach seo.

Ba mhaith liom ceisteanna a chur ar an Aire i gcomhthéacs JobBridge. The Minister discussed the JobBridge scheme but there is a glaring anomaly in that scheme in that it is only applicable to those on jobseeker's payments and not to those on other social welfare payments such as single parent's allowance or disability allowance. It is grossly unfair that the attitude seems to be those people are not interested in getting back to work and are not being given a fair crack of the whip to be able to take part in the scheme. I have had cases like that in Galway where people have come to me and I have brought those cases to the attention of the Minister. This anomaly should be examined.

Does the Minister agree that rent allowance should not be cut given the over-supply of housing at the State's disposal through NAMA? Does the Minister believe social welfare cuts are counter-productive and that instead of cutting social welfare rates, investment in jobs is necessary? The Minister is aware that Sinn Féin has launched its pre-budget submission. It is a constructive document that has engendered a lot of debate and there are other areas in the social protection and general budget headings that we ask the Minister to take on board. If we had more speaking time we could go into detail on those.