Burton: Coalition made right decision to implement social welfare cuts

The Social Protection Minister said that although it is very sad that the Labour Party lost one of its members today - the coalition made the right decision to implement cuts to child benefit and the respite grant in the budget.

Joan Burton's comments come after the Galway TD Colm Keaveney was expelled from the Labour Parliamentary Party today for voting against the Social Welfare Bill.

He is the fifth Labour TD to be expelled from the party in 21 months and will now join Roisin Shortall, Patrick Nulty, Tommy Broughan and Willie Penrose on the Independent benches.

Many of those opposed to social welfare cuts said the money could be found elsewhere, but Minister Burton says that is not the case: