Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge some Senators in the House are genuinely concerned about this budget. However, I take issue with members of Fianna Fáil on the other side who destroyed this country. These same people cut the Christmas bonus and cut carer's allowance by ¤16.80 and are now telling us they are concerned about these people, only because they are on the Opposition benches. If they had any respect for themselves, they would keep their mouths shut during this debate. Obviously they do not.

I am proud of what the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, has done with regard to her portfolio and budget. It has already been said that she pared back a potential cut of ¤540 million to a cut of ¤390 million. She has protected carer's allowance, at ¤204 per week, one of the most valued payments initiated by this and previous Governments. I am proud of that. Compare this to the carer's payment north of the Border, at £58.45. Yet the same party working there, Sinn Féin, sends me e-mails asking me to express my concern today for the people of this country who will lose money. The cheek of Sinn Féin public representatives to send me e-mails on this, while just 100 miles up the road, where Sinn Féin is in office, carers only receive £58 a week.