Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to the debate, I am taken aback by some of the political charges being made. This is not about political charges but about legislation affecting 77,000 carers. No Member from Sinn Féin, the Independents or Fianna Fáil made any political attacks on or charges against any member of the Government parties. We are not here to do that today but to stand up for the carer's allowance and respite care grant.

In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote the famous novel A Christmas Carol, one of whose characters is Scrooge.