Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept the bona fides of the Opposition Members who are for or against the Bill. However, I cannot accept the hypocritical comments from the other side, including the suggestion by one Member that we should not take money from carers and those who need it. Is it amnesia from which that Member is suffering? This budget takes ¤325 from the respite grant whereas Fianna Fáil's last two budgets took ¤850 - ¤16.50 per week - from the carer's allowance itself. Yet, Fianna Fáil is now crying crocodile tears and telling the Government what it should be doing. I have heard the word "shame" used by Members opposite. They should be ashamed to give out about the grant today after what they did to carers and given the state in which they left the country.