Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to the Minister and the Government Senators not to inflict Scrooge-like words on carers this Christmas. This is effectively what they will do if this section of the legislation is voted through by Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

Carers play a pivotal role. Over the course of this debate today and yesterday, this has been outlined by many Members. My mother is a carer who cares for a 96-year-old woman who lives at the bottom of Muckish Mountain. I am proud of every carer, including my mother. I am proud of parents who care for children who can eat only through a straw or tube. I visit houses where I see the great work carers do daily. The Carers Association deserves our full respect, as do all carers. Nobody should cast aspersions to the effect that such comments are being used to make political points.

This matter is very simple. Members have asked where the money would come from. Proposals were made in the Department of Social Protection this year to cut the budget by ¤390 million. Let nobody be fooled: it is a Government decision on how to reduce the deficit by ¤3.5 billion, irrespective of the Department in which the cuts are made. Three proposals by Fianna Fáil would have saved ¤400 million and allowed-----