Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

We will be opposing the Order of Business, in particular we will be opposing the motion on the appointment of a new Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on the basis that it will not be debated in the Seanad and will go straight to the joint committee. When I saw the schedule last week I was uncertain about it. However, we will not agree to the motion being passed by the Seanad without debate on the basis that it was announced yesterday by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, not the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in his statement to the Dáil, that 31 urban and rural Garda stations will close across the country and another ten Garda stations will have restricted opening hours.

We have set aside two hours to discuss the Budget Statement 2012, so I will restrict myself this morning as we will have time this evening to comment on it. However, I ask the Leader and Deputy Leader to address the striking anomaly of the cuts to the disability allowance. The Government is proposing a decrease of €88 a week in the payments to a person aged between 18 year and 22, who lives at home; a decrease of more than €100 for a teenager aged between 16 and 18 years who lives at home, and a decrease of €44 for those aged between 22 and 24 years.

The social welfare Bill will not be introduced until next week. I am asking the Leader and the Deputy Leader, Senator Bacik, to talk to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection and to tell them they will not accept this cut. I understand that we are in a very difficult situation. My party understands that fully and realises that very difficult choices must be made in the budget. These young adults with disabilities face a hard life, and I ask that the Government does not proceed with this cut. I ask the Leader to give a commitment that both he and the Deputy Leader, Senator Bacik, will raise this specific matter. I know that everyone in this House is decent and I know that they cannot stand over this cut to young adults with disabilities.

I make these comments in light of the salary increase for a special adviser due to the direct intervention of the Taoiseach. That individual, Mr. Ciarán Conlon, was given a €700 per week increase against the advice of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. In the interests of fairness, I ask the Leader to raise that matter.