Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I am happy to limit my comments and wait for the Minister's reply, at which stage I may have to come back in.

This is a cut to a basic payment. When the people concerned receive their money every week, it is their basic income. The State calls it a basic payment. This is spin and propaganda to be able to say we have protected the basic rates when there is a specific cut for any new claimant in receipt of carer's benefit. The Minister talks so much about carers and protecting pensioners. The measure proposed will affect transition pensioners who cannot earn extra income, although those in receipt of a contributory pension can go out to work. Invalidity pensions will be cut if those invalided have children and come within the ambit of this section. Carers will also suffer a cut. The worst cut of all is on people in a family with carers and FIS, a cut of €160 a week. These people are being cut. It is pure propaganda to state that the basic rates of social welfare have been protected when cuts are being made here, there and everywhere that will have a regressive impact on the lives of certain families. The Government should take a broad brush approach which tries to make every member of society pay according to what he or she can afford. One would think that would be the socialist left wing ideology, but in this country the socialist left wing ideology is to target those who will not vote at all and to protect the voting masses. That policy is wrong and will come a cropper next year and the year after when the Minister's difficult job continues.