Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the other hand, the most vulnerable people in our society are losing their telephone allowance. To put this in context, we, as Members of the Oireachtas, receive a telephone allowance of €750 every 18 months. Why was that provision not touched in the budget while the €9.50 per month telephone allowance for elderly people was removed? It is absolutely outrageous and disgraceful.

I had hoped to speak about youth unemployment but the Cathaoirleach is indicating that my time is up. We will deal with that in detail as we move through the Stages of the Bill. Young people are being penalised and driven from this country as a result of changes in this budget. Bus loads of young people from my own county are leaving or have already left because they are not willing to live in a country where they are penalised for being young. Why should a person aged 27 be entitled to a higher payment than somebody who is two years younger? Is the second person worth less to the State? I strongly contend that he or she is not.