David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

One of the problems in this House is that when the budget was announced we were given two hours to debate it. During that debate a number of people who made very short contributions highlighted the harsh cut for people with disabilities. As a result of that and representations from Members of the Lower House, the Government accepted the cut was wrong and is now reviewing the situation.

We should have had more time to discuss the budget and to examine other harsh cuts that were announced, such as the changes to the one-parent family payment. Consider the position of families who are living in consistent poverty and who will be affected by those changes. They will pay an additional €6 per week towards rent supplement and lose €120 per year for fuel costs. Families with three children will lose €228 per year and a family with four children will lose €432. If they have a child going to primary school, they will lose another €50 and €55 if a child is going to secondary school due to changes in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. The point is that we should have had more time to discuss all those cuts.

I agree with the last speaker that we must be constructive and make constructive contributions. However, we must be given the opportunity to make those constructive contributions. Before the budget this year I asked that we would be given an opportunity to fully proof the budget before it came before the House. We might not be here next year. One of the things we said we would do next year is change the way we do our business and change the way this House and the Lower House frame and discuss the budget. Hopefully, if we are in that position next year and fortunate enough to be able to scrutinise the budget, I appeal to the Leader to arrange that we do so in a comprehensive and constructive way. We are elected to scrutinise but we were not given that opportunity either before or after this budget.