Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What I note from this budget, and I will go through some of these points, is how irrelevant the Labour Party has become. It is irrelevant in government. It has not been able to bring forward any measure whatsoever. It has had to stand over another €113 million worth of medical card cuts - these are called "medical card reviews" or, as the Civil Service has said, "probity reviews on medical cards". This at a time when it has already presided over 22,500 people - some 400 people a week - losing discretionary medical cards. It has presided over further reducing the income thresholds for the over 70s for medical cards. The rug has been taken from under the medical cards for the over 70s.

I was interested in points made by Senator Hayden. Reference has been made to her track record on housing, which is admirable, and I often listen to her speak. It was interesting to hear Senator Mullins mention the measure announced in this regard and welcome it, but Senator Hayden said nothing about it. Only €30 million has been allocated for social housing this year, yet NAMA has made €2 billion worth of vendor capital available for purchases of commercial property in Ireland.