Labour TD accused of duplicity after email reveals views on lone-parent payment cut

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Mental Health Colm Keaveney TD has accused Labour Party chief whip Emmet Stagg of “appalling duplicity”.

Deputy Stagg wrote a letter to a constituent saying that recent changes to the One-Parent Family Payment were a “bad decision”.

The measures, introduced by Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton, will see single parents in receipt of social welfare required to seek employment or training as soon as their youngest child turns seven.

The changes, which affect more than 9,000 recipients, will see some working lone parents now facing income reductions of up to €200 per month, according to the One Family group.

In an email, Deputy Stagg described the changes as "a bad decision" and said he will continue to press for their reversal.

Deputy Stagg later told RTÉ News that he is aware that the letter has been made public, and he “has no problem with this”.

He said that he “stands over his remarks and does not regret making them”, RTÉ reported.

He defends voting in favour of the legislation in 2012, writing: “I was told and expected that the child care system that was promised would be put in place before this last and most severe of changes”.

The Department of Social Protection previously said the changes were designed to help lone parents out of the “poverty trap” and back into the workplace, but Deputy Stagg rejected this.

“I simply fail to see how cutting the income of the very ones who are making a real effort to improve the lot of their families and themselves helps in some way to get out of the poverty trap,” his letter stated.

“It clearly has the opposite effect.

“I will continue to press for a reversal of this bad decision.”

He also said that he understands the complainant's decision to no longer support the Labour Party.

“I don’t blame you for withdrawing support from the Party but I will continue to try to convince those who are making the decisions.”