David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am providing the Minister with alternatives.

There was an opportunity for the Minister and the Government to increase taxation on higher earners to prevent the need to cut the respite care grant. With respect, that was the point I was making. All Members of the Oireachtas must stand by their principles. They must stand by what they were elected on. I have listened to the leader of the Labour Party saying to people who may vote with their conscience, who may vote on what they stand for, that they will be expelled from the Labour Party. That is shocking for democracy. They should stand by the people who voted for them. They should stand by the carers of Ireland. They should stand by those people who need to be protected, people whom the Minister promised she would protect. She has failed absolutely to do so. It is not too late for her to change her mind. There are any number of options that any of us could provide to the Minister for finding the ¤26 million. She will have the support of this House if she does it. The Minister climbed down and reversed decisions in many instances last year. She will have the collective strength and support of this House if she makes the right call on this issue and if she withdraws the cut to the respite care grants; if she ensures that all those families whom we all know and represent, are given the proper care supports that they give to the people they care for and if carers are given the same level of support from this State they had to enable them to do the job they do.