Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Hypocrisy in politics gives politicians a bad name. Senators should man up, or woman up, and say when they are wrong. In the budget for 2010 and again in 2011 when Deputy Ó Cuív was Minister, Fianna Fáil slashed the core weekly payments on which some of the most vulnerable groups in society relied. Carer's allowance and tax relief for carers were cut, as were widow's pensions, invalidity pensions and pensions for the blind.

In 2011, under the then Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats slashed the core weekly payments on which the most vulnerable groups in society relied. They cut both the carer's allowance and the carer's tax relief, as well as the widow's pension, the invalidity pension and the blind pension. I do not ascribe blame because the entire situation had collapsed and the Government had to do something. We are now being blamed for continuing with what we were bequeathed by the previous Government and every Minister has to cut the cloth accordingly. Nobody likes to make cuts in the Department of Social Protection because they affect the most vulnerable in society.

The respite care grant has been reduced but it trebled over the last ten years. Carers have the hardest job in the country and if one put a monetary value on the work they do because, for example, those for whom they cared were hoisted into hospitals, it would make for an interesting analysis. We currently spend ¤771 million on carers but that should be weighed against what is spent on nursing homes.

We must ensure the budget is fair and that everybody pays a fair share. However, we also want to ensure those who can pay their share stay in this country and employ people. The Irish tax system is one of the most progressive in the world according to an OECD report published in 2011. The OECD defines the tax wedge as income tax plus employee and employer social security contributions. Ireland comes second in the world and first in the EU for progressivity, which means fairness. I rarely hear that mentioned in the newspapers.

I want those in need to get the money. That is what the Minister, Deputy Burton, has done. She is tackling fraud to ensure the money goes where it is needed and to ensure those who are not in need do not fraudulently receive payments. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, is working with the Minister, Deputy Burton, to put the money where it is needed at a time when we do not have all the money we want.

I pointed out earlier that a report by the OECD reveals that Irish mothers pay a huge price for having children. Their earning potential is reduced. Child care and child benefit will be debated in the Seanad. We cannot do everything at once but it is an issue we will have to address.