Social Welfare Bill ‘bulldozed’ through

DEEP budget cuts in welfare payments were last night condemned as unjust and unnecessary as the measures were rushed through the Dáil.

Rowdy scenes saw opposition TDs repeatedly try to delay the legislation as they insisted Government deputies should face public “wrath” over the weekend before casting their votes.

The Social Welfare Bill cuts benefits by 4.1% on average, with child benefit being reduced by €16 a month, the weekly carer’s benefit down by €8.20 and big cuts in unemployment benefit for those under 25.

Widows and blind people were also targeted for cuts which followed the abolition of the annual Christmas Bonus.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the fast-tracking of the spending cuts was designed to prevent TDs “wobbling” when they went back to their constituencies.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also complained the Social Welfare Bill was being “bulldozed” through the Dáil.

However, Taoiseach Brian Cowen refused his appeal to allow more debate on the issues involved next week so that deputies had time to absorb the implications of the measures.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín O Caoláin dismissed the legislation as an “emigration bill” for those up to 24-years-old and said the speed with which it was going through the Dáil was down to a “lack of nerve” on Government benches.

In the Dáil, Mr Cowen insisted the budget had been “fair” and would provide a significant jobs stimulus.

Mr Gilmore said Fianna Fáil had turned its back on the people of Ireland and the party’s own traditional principles.

Mr Kenny warned that the budget was a “savage verdict” on the Government’s mishandling of state finances.

Fr Seán Healy of Social Justice Ireland claimed it was anti-family, anti-poor and anti-children.

“A society is measured on how it treats its vulnerable people. Using that yardstick this Budget has failed all of Ireland’s people.

“It was not the poor, it was not the vulnerable who caused the crisis that Ireland is facing but now it is the poor, it is the vulnerable who are actually paying the cost,” Fr Healy said.

Social and Family affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said the welfare cuts would not leave people worse off because of a drop in prices.

“I know it is a difficult situation for them but the real value of the increases that we gave last year still exist. It won’t make the situation any worse for them,” she said.

Independent TD Noel Grealish pledged to back the Government after a meeting with the Taoiseach at which he says he was promised firm guarantees of Government support for initiatives including a new bypass road for the traffic accident blackspot village of Claregalway, an aid package for flood victims in the area and the acceleration of work on a number of school projects.