Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While it is not my style of politics, I have listened for the past seven or eight days to discussions on the budget. I did not open my mouth to speak on the budget. I took the time to look at the last two budgets of the previous Government and considered the facts as they were. All sides might call for debates on cuts to the carer's grants, the respite care etc. However, we need to consider what happened under the previous Government. I had thought they did not hear of respite care until last Wednesday's budget. It is useful to recall the cuts in the basic carer's grant made by the previous Government. The budget for 2011, introduced by the Fianna Fáil-led Government, made cuts to the carer's allowance and the carer's tax relief. It also cut the widow's pension.