Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for his flexibility in allowing me the opportunity to contribute. Indeed, I very much welcome the flexibility he is affording us to debate the Bill in detail on its various Stages.

We all appreciate that we are living in stringent times and that the demands on the State's social welfare budget are extremely high. At the same time, the very purpose of a social welfare budget is to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, including people who cannot access employment, either through their own initiative or because the jobs are not available, as well as the elderly and disabled. These groups of people are often classified by interest groups and Members of this and the other House as being the most vulnerable in our society. There comes a time when a society must be judged in accordance with how it treats its most vulnerable. That assessment can only be benchmarked against the assistance that is available through social funds such as the social welfare budget.

In the case of the changes that were announced in this budget and are set to be transcribed into law by way of this Bill, a question must arise as to the Government's commitment to those who are less well off in our society and those who are most vulnerable. That commitment seems particularly doubtful, as outlined by colleagues, when key allowances are being cut for people who cannot provide the relevant services through their own means. The withdrawal of the telephone allowance, for example, will affect a large proportion of elderly people throughout the country, including many in my own county of Donegal. Many of these are living in isolated rural areas where there is not even mobile telephone coverage, let alone broadband.

This is a matter of protection within the home for elderly people. Members on all sides of the House have spoken about the plight of elderly people living alone and in fear. A neighbour of mine who recently suffered a break-in has no mobile telephone coverage and does not own a mobile device. He does, however, have a landline. Yet this elderly and partially disabled gentleman will now lose his telephone allowance. That is not right. Moreover, it is happening at a time when it is more clear than ever that bankers are being protected by this Government. Despite the promises made before the last general election, not one banker has lost a single penny in pension entitlement or remuneration.