Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, to the Chamber. As we are all aware, the country is watching and listening to what we do here today. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, is a member of the Fine Gael-Labour Party Cabinet and is responsible for a Department that provides an investment of 37% of government expenditure for the protection and well-being of the people. She has the opportunity over the next several days in the Seanad to adopt a new tone of governance, a form of deliberative and representative democracy that demonstrates a dialogic approach between the Government and the people.

Since the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform announced the outlines of the 2013 budget, a national conversation has erupted in which all of us as public representatives have listened and participated. Over the course of the past several days, especially when the Social Welfare Bill was debated in the Lower House, a few prime issues have risen to the top of the budget debate. As my colleague and group leader, Senator van Turnhout, has so forcefully outlined, Independent Members have put forward amendments to the Bill to deal with these issues.

There is not one person in the country who does not understand that our economy is in a terrible way, that our recovery has so far been anaemic, that savings must be made and, above all in light of the financial and social crises, that we must limit the damage done to the most vulnerable, especially when budgetary choices are made. Governing with a dialogic approach requires, even in the toughest times, that those who lead demonstrate flexibility and empathy. The people need to be listened to and those who govern must trust the people. The Minister for Social Protection said she had reduced the original amount to be cut by ¤150 million. It is a significant amount, for which I commend her, as I do on the other reforms she has introduced. However, as of today, I, as well as the majority, do not understand why the Government did not approach some key budgetary measures differently.

Why did Fine Gael and the Labour Party fail to increase the universal social charge for those earning more than ¤100,000 per annum? We have been told it is because the Labour Party lost the battle and Fine Gael promised not to increase taxes. I have heard even those on more than ¤100,000 acknowledge that an increase would have been a fairer way to proceed than to make reductions in the respite care grant. Even to increase the universal social charge by 1% or 2% could have compensated for the saving of the ¤26 million which was achieved by cutting respite care, and that cut would not then have had to proceed. We have not heard credible, logical, value-based reasons for choices such as these. Further, why did those who govern postpone the capping of tax relief for the pensions of high earners until 2014? What credible, logical, value-based reason could there be not to introduce a saving of ¤215 million for 2013, thereby allowing the Government to maintain the incomes of children in the poorest and hungriest households?

The Minister says she has to cut child benefit across the board, from rich to poor and middle-income households alike, and that a fairer, more equitable reform of child benefit must wait until the expert report on that topic is debated. Why? Rich and poor alike do not understand the logic of that wait. Ireland needs a form of governance that is credible, listens to the people and demonstrates that equality of empathy is present. To make a few changes, even now, to the budget will not unravel the whole thing. Rather than set us on a slippery slope, it would demonstrate a new form of governance and those the Minister was willing to trust would be more likely to respond with renewed hope and determination. I ask the Minister to call a meeting with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform - the Economic Management Council - to ask them to listen to the people and to feel with them, which is the nature of empathy, and to make key changes even at this stage. The alternative is that Fine Gael and the Labour Party risk leaving what Adrienne Rich calls "a rusted legacy". There is still time to image the possible and engage in a way of governing that engenders hope for all our people.