'The dole is not a way of life': Tánaiste warns of penalties for long-term welfare recipients

Simon Harris also outlined plans for a national migration strategy and renewed action against drug gangs and anti-social behaviour

Simon Harris arrives onstage at the Fine Gael ard fheis in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

The “dole is not a way of life” and there will be a crackdown on those who remain on social welfare long-term, the Tánaiste has warned.

In a speech at the Fine Gael ard fheis at University College Cork (UCC) on Saturday evening, Simon Harris reminded the 1,200 delegates present that Fine Gael is the party for person “who gets up early in the morning and does a good, decent day’s work”.

The half-hour address also focused on crime, a new national migration strategy and drug debt intimidation.

In remarks reminiscent of former taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s “welfare cheats cheat us all” campaign, Mr Harris warned that there would be penalties for those who remain on social welfare for extended periods.

“Social welfare must always be there for people when they need support. That is the mark of any decent society,” the Tánaiste said.

“But support comes with responsibility, too — everyone who can work should be expected to make a contribution.

“The dole is a safety net, not a way of life.

In 2017, then social protection minister Leo Varadkar called on the public to report welfare fraud at launch of hard-hitting 'Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All' campaign. File picture: Shane O'Neill Photography

“At a time of full employment, it is simply not acceptable for any person to remain on the Live Register year after year after year.

“That is why we want to see a new Pathways to Work plan, the same kind of activation strategy that was successful in previous Fine Gael governments.” 

Mr Harris said there needed to be a “renewed focus” on intensive engagement with the long-term unemployed, adding that there would be “penalties” for those who “refuse to engage”.

Tax and social welfare measures

He argued that his party believes it is “simply wrong for people earning the average wage to be on the higher rate of tax”.

“We want people to be able to make their hard-earned money work for them by being able to invest it in a new Investment Account,” he said.

“Our party believes in opening up opportunity to all. In supporting aspiration. In backing those who want to better themselves.

“People also deserve to be supported when life takes an unexpected turn. We introduced Pay-Related Benefit so that people who lose their jobs have a stronger safety net linked to their previous earnings.

“We will now work to introduce Pay Related Parents Benefit, so that parents’ incomes are protected while they spend precious time with their newborn child.”

Crackdown on illegal migration

The Tánaiste also warned of a crackdown on “illegal migration”.

While thanking those who had moved to Ireland and made a “positive contribution”, he said the country had a “responsibility to continue a firmly managed approach to those who migrate to our country through routes other than work permits”.

“We need to maintain a tougher response to illegal immigration,” Mr Harris said.

“When there were tents on the streets of Dublin becoming a serious health and safety risk, I showed how we can act swiftly and decisively.

“We made many significant changes to strengthen our systems and this work continues.

“Our next step is a new, overarching, national migration strategy, which we will bring forward in the coming months.”

Drug debt intimidation and anti-social behaviour

Mr Harris also argued that there was a “rampant disregard for authority, flagrant anti-social behaviour, [and] a lack of respect for public safety [and] for human life”, adding that there “must be consequences”.

“There are good parents out there whose children are being taken over by the drug gangs and lured into a life outside of any parental control,” he said.

“Good people who are finding themselves terrorised by drug debt and intimidation.

“This is affecting too many families, and we are going to have to come at it with the same level of focus and determination as Nora Owen when she went after the gangs with the Criminal Assets Bureau.

“Let’s be really clear to those who think snorting a line of coke is just another part of a great night out; It’s not just a recreational pastime and it’s not a victimless crime. You are part of the problem. You are fuelling the criminal enterprises making life a misery for so many.” 

The Fine Gael ard fheis will continue at UCC on Sunday, when the party is expected to unveil its blueprint for a unified Ireland.

 - Louise Burne, Political Correspondent