David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I will not rehearse the arguments made on previous sections as I appreciate we have many amendments to discuss. I accept much of what the Minister of State said yesterday when he outlined many of the exemptions that are in place, for example, for tenants of local authority housing and people who are in receipt of mortgage interest supplement and rent supplement. While a number of categories of people will be exempt from paying the household charge, there is a long list of people who are in receipt of social welfare benefits, which include jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, supplementary welfare allowance, family income supplement, farm assist, old age pension, disability allowance, disability benefit, blind pension, invalidity pension and carer's allowance. It is important to ensure anyone who is in receipt of any form of welfare payment is exempt from the €100 household charge.

As I pointed out, Sinn Féin's position is one of outright opposition to the household charge. Notwithstanding that, the Government must ensure, when it is considering exemptions and waivers, that all those in receipt of welfare payments are exempt from the charge. The reason people are in receipt of welfare payments, including those who receive the family income supplement, is that they are in low income households and could be at risk of poverty. I echo the request of previous speakers that the Government take on board the thrust of the amendments which have been withdrawn for resubmission on Report Stage. I hope the Minister of State will reflect on the categories of people who may fall through the cracks in respect of the protections set out in the Bill. Anyone in receipt of a social welfare payment should be exempt from the household charge.