David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When Governments and Ministers frame budgets, the first thing they should do is to put safety nets in place for the most vulnerable in society and for the different groups and sectors which must be protected. The budget introduced yesterday removed the safety net relating to young people under the age of 26 whose dole is to be reduced. The Government is sending a clear signal to these individuals that it is not serious about job creation and that the best thing they can do is leave the country. Unfortunately, more young people are going to emigrate because there simply will not be any jobs here for them. Reducing their dole is a very cynical way of informing them that they should get out of the country. That is an appalling way to treat young people.

The safety nets relating to the telephone allowance and medical cards for older people are now under threat. I do not believe it is possible to credibly argue that trying to achieve €113 million in savings - as the Government describes them - in respect of medical cards will not have an impact on people in possession of such cards. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that there are families and individuals who have medical cards now but who will not have them when these savings - which in reality are cuts - are imposed. Another aspect of the budget which will affect people is the increase in prescription charges. Many safety nets are being taken away from a large number of families.

I take this opportunity to request a debate on emigration. There have been several calls for a debate on employment and I support these. The House has already discussed this matter on a number of occasions. I am of the view that we should engage in a debate on emigration and on how Government policies are forcing young people - including graduates and other skilled individuals who have finished pursuing courses in our universities and institutes of technology - to leave the country.