James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

After much reflection on this Social Welfare Bill I have made the decision not to support some of the provisions contained in it. My gut feeling at the outset was that some of them, specifically the blanket cut in child benefit and the cut in the respite care grant, were wrong. A solemn pledge was made not long ago as I was travelling door to door and meeting people in my own area of Kilfinane, Kilmallock, Bruff, and all areas throughout my constituency and the county of Limerick. My party said we would not cut child benefit. That pledge is now broken and in good conscience I cannot be party to that. I promised people in desperate circumstances, hard-working, middle income earners, that I would do what I could to make things better for them. There is an inherent unfairness in hitting carers and children, regardless of their personal circumstances, especially when there was a choice to be made. A temporary solidarity measure would have been to tax high earners but that was decided against.

I urge those on high incomes who are in receipt of these payments to consider giving them back if they do not need them.

Ó Murchú, Labhrás.

I will remain a Labour Party man and will commit all my efforts to addressing and reversing what I see as unjust cuts, especially those that are harshest on middle and low-income, hard-working families. It is not a decision I have taken lightly and it is not an easy one. I respect the Minister's reform agenda and I wish her well in what is a difficult job. I have consulted widely on this decision both within my constituency and community and among the broader Labour Party family. Ultimately, this decision is my own. I do not fly any flag of convenience. I have the utmost respect for my Seanad colleagues and all my colleagues in the Labour Party. What I ask is that my decision will also be afforded the same respect.