Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator John Crown who, unfortunately, only had one and a half minutes to speak last night, was beginning to come up with some very good progressive ideas on how we could save money in other areas. Carers become stressed and may get sick when they are not cared for. Do we want them to spend their days in hospital, as Senator John Crown asked last night? If even 10% of carers or carees were to spend one day a year in hospital, the Minister would see the costs involved.

Does the troika detail to the Minister what needs to be cut from social welfare payments? My take on the memorandum of understanding is that any new measure of equal value can be substituted or brought forward to make savings in the national budget. Will the Minister clarify this for all Government Senators? Most of the Government Senators to whom I have spoken are certain that it must be cut from the budget of the Department of Social Protection. The money does not have to come from social welfare payments; I have ten ideas on where we could save money and I am willing to meet anybody to discuss them.

The Minister states that if we pause the passage of the Bill, it will cost ¤124 million. I am open to correction, but the respite care grant is not due to be paid until June 2013. I plead, at the very least, for a stay of execution. Cross-party Members will put their hearts into finding a solution to find the ¤26 million that needs to be saved.