Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will take up the point made by Senator Hayden. I, along with others from all sides of the House, regret that the mobility allowance is being terminated. I am sure we all have constituents who will be deprived as a result. Many of these people are in the autumn years of their life and some live alone. The allowance is a prerequisite for any reasonable quality of life for these people.

I have constantly stated in the House that instead of promises not to reduce pay or social welfare rates, I fully accept that corrections must be made to the fiscal position.

It would be far better to do that evenly so that small amounts are imposed on people rather than depriving a person seeking mobility allowance of the entire payment.

I ask the House to come together and condemn the appalling attack last week on the office of the pro-life group, Youth Defence. Human excrement was spread on the doors, windows, shutters and locks of the building. Most profanely of all, images of the poor Indian lady, Ms Savita Halappanavar, who died in Galway, were pinned with excrement to the doors. The mindless people within the pro-abortion advocacy groups who would do that need to be condemned soundly by all sides of the House. I know some Members of the House are pro-abortion, or pro-choice, but we should condemn all of that.