David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Labour Party Members engaged in the same type of heckling in the Dáil. Are they not prepared to listen to people? Can they not sit and listen and show some respect for speakers? Do they have to continually interrupt? I understand the Labour Party is on the floor and that in terms of this tough budget it has again sold out to Fine Gael. Please listen and do not continue to interrupt when other people are speaking.

Jobseeker's benefit for those under 24 years of age has been cut. Is that good and great? How is that good for young people? What hope is there for those whose benefits have been cut? Perhaps some of the Senators opposite or, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, would explain the logic of targeting those young people. When Fianna Fáil reduced jobseeker's benefit, Fine Gael and the Labour Party opposed it. The only logic for that cut is that the Government wants to force more young people to emigrate. Perhaps it is because the Government believes this group are people who will not fight back or stand up for themselves that they have been targeted. The Minister of State, might explain the logic of that cut, which I cannot understand.

I do not believe this budget is fair. Independent analysis carried out by a range of organisations and agencies shows that the previous two budgets introduced by this Government were the most unequal, even more unequal than previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party and Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats' budgets. This Government has not stood by working or young people. It has not given people hope. There is nothing in this budget which indicates this Government is serious about job creation or reducing unemployment and emigration. In my view, it is more pain for people at the bottom. While there has not been an increase of even one cent in income tax for those earning over €100,000, €200,000 or €300,000, for an elderly person dependent on the household benefit package the telephone allowance has been cut and for a young person jobseeker's benefit has been cut. It is shameful that Members opposite can stand over this and that the Government has again missed an opportunity to introduce a fair budget.