Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

5:20 pm

Photo of John KellyJohn Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. The hardest task we have to perform every year is to implement the Social Welfare Bill. I commend the Minister on this Bill because, like others, I was bracing myself for something much worse than what has hit us. Prior to the budget my colleagues and I asked her that she protect people with disabilities, child benefit, the carer's allowance, the half-rate carer's allowance, the respite care grant and fuel, electricity and travel grants. We also asked that middle income workers be protected by way of the family income supplement. She did all of that. We had to take €290 million out of social welfare benefits courtesy of the troika that the Members opposite brought to town several years ago. At the time they did not know the troika was in town and now they have appeared to have forgotten that they brought it in in the first place.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.