FYI. I am definetly not suggesting that the latest budget wasnt difficult but please read below for information purposes. FIANNA FAIL AND SINN FEIN NOT CREDIBLE ON SOCIAL PROTECTION - MORAN Speaking on Second Stage Debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, Tuesday 6th October 2013 This years Social Welfare and Pensions Bill brings cold comfort to many, as those of us from this side say, It could have been worse. It most certainly could have been worse--I think everyone realises this. Minister Burton achieved a thankless feat of reducing the adjustment from €440m to €290m. Every member of both Houses cannot dispute that this Budget is significantly different from the previous Budgets we have unfortunately had to propose. I am not standing up to applaud this but I decided that these points must be made to put these measures into context. Throughout the difficult three years of this Government the opposition, those affiliated to parties and those affiliated to none, have repeatedly stated that we are not protecting ordinary people, that we cant make these adjustments, that there must be money somewhere. I had sincerely hoped that at this stage in the game they would have woken up from their delusions, particularly those Senators of Fianna Fail. If there was ever an opposition party who knew the scale of the task we have faced and still face it should be Fianna Fail. The party who kicked off the austerity budgets--their buzzword at the moment. The party that cut Child Benefit by €16 a month in Budget 2010 and by €10 in Budget 2011, the party that cut Carers Allowance from €220.50 to €204, the party who cut the Blind Pension from €204.30 to €188 for the most devastating Budgets in living memory--is this what you meant by the Budget 2011 tagline Putting Ireland First? Did you mean that were you putting Ireland First by making further reductions in social welfare rates as necessary in your Fianna Fail National Recovery Plan 2011-2014? I am convinced that Social Protection is completely alien to this party - while in Government and in crisis they implemented a slash and burn policy after years of just throwing money at the problem. This party showed no innovative thinking in this area or any future planning. On to Sinn Fein - historically Sinn Fein seems to jump on whatever bandwagon is on the move. This party believes that there must be money somewhere and all of our budgetary issues could be solved by taxing the wealthy. I would agree that the wealthy in Ireland should pay their share--no dispute on that matter - but Sinn Feins pre-Budget 2014 submission is as one-dimensional and as regurgitated as their pre-Budget 2013, 2012, and 2011 proposals. Members of Sinn Fein stand up in both Houses to disparage the decisions of this Government and the measures of this Bill in particular year in and year out. But members of Sinn Fein stand up in Stormont and introduce social welfare changes that by their own admission are flawed and targeted at the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. The Social Welfare Bill that was allowed to pass by Sinn Fein in the North saw changes and cuts that disproportionately affected women--this sounds familiar, low income families, lone parents were forced to access debt, discredited tests were used to judge the sick and disabled along with further measures that threatened to take away benefits for those who refuse work and cuts to housing benefits. I concede that we have made harsh decisions and compromises, but we have never lost sight on the end game--to regain control of our country and to make it a more sustainable place for our children. It is easy to make easy decisions. On the most cynical level, not a single member of Cabinet, the Labour Party or Fine Gael has anything to gain from cutting services and benefits from people. I think it is safe to say not a single person on either side of the House entered into politics to take or cut from people. I would like to commend the Minister for the fact that no further reductions have been made in the area of Disability which is hugely important. Minister Burton has no easy task in Social Protection and under these circumstances she has continued to expand the JobBridge scheme, has overseen the drop in Live Register figures, has made sure that Budget 2014 allocated significant money to job activation measures, and has rationalised many social welfare services with the introduction of Intreo offices which will be customer service orientated. Minister Burton has also worked tirelessly behind the scenes on the Youth Guarantee and has secured €14m of funding while we continue to work on funding from the EU. I know members on the other side of the House will complain that not enough is being allocated to this project but I will remind them, particularly Fianna Fail, its not always about how much money you allocate, its about how you use it. ENDS
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:06:45 +0000
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