David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

He should go further and reverse the charge completely. He should publish the relevant standards and define what grant aid is available. He should also remove the criminal sanctions in the Bill. We need a similar U-turn on the household charge. We will see people crippled with that charge and people who cannot afford to pay will end up in court. We have heard that the Minister for Justice and Equality will amend the fines legislation to allow the Government, in the case of people who cannot afford the charge, to take the money from social welfare or salary payments.

Will the Leader confirm if that is what the Government proposes? It will criminalise the people who simply cannot afford to pay the kind of charges being introduced by this Government. Will the Leader ask why the Minister did not use the opportunity he had in this House last week to make his announcement and why he made it outside the Houses of the Oireachtas?