David Norris (Independent)

I appreciate the position in which the Minister finds herself. I speak as an independent Senator and I understand that she is being obliged to honour arrangements that were made before she came to office. That is a very complicating factor. I was spoke out and voted against all of those arrangements, including the bank guarantee. I saw this difficulty coming down the tracks and I knew what would happen. The Minister will be sympathetic to the fact that at the very time these cutbacks are being made, a further €1 billion will be paid to secure the liabilities of a defunct financial institution, namely, the former Anglo Irish Bank. That is extraordinarily galling for people who are losing access to services. The section with which we are dealing refers to percentages of disability. There is something almost Dickensian about measuring disability and disadvantage in percentages. I am not sure that disability easily lends itself to this type of quantification. In that context, I speak as someone who experiences robust and rude good health.

Until a few minutes ago, the Minister was wearing a nice, warm scarf. We are in one of the Houses of the Oireachtas but despite the central heating, there is something of a chill in the air. Imagine what will be the impact of some of these proposed cuts on people, particularly that which relates to the fuel allowance. The latter is the most appalling of cuts.

If we want to move forward and get people into employment, then guidance counsellors are essential.