John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind Senator Darragh O'Brien, for whom I have great respect, that the social welfare budget is costing taxpayers ¤21 billion per year. The reason it is so high is that the Senator's former leader prepared for three general elections by increasing social welfare provision, including child benefit, year on year. He even promised to increase the State pension to ¤300 per week.