Deputies tainted with hypocrisy

MIND-BOGGLING is the only way to describe the hypocrisy of Fianna Fáil backbenchers.

Despite voicing trenchant criticism of cuts in community job schemes, when it came down to the wire in the Dáil yesterday, they voted en bloc against holding a debate on the future of the project and the need to create 5,000 extra jobs.

Obviously, the threat of a mini-revolt by 40 backbenchers was purely for the optics.

Another example of double-standards in Government can be seen in the decision to cut rent supplements.

Thanks to the mean-spirited initiative of Social Welfare Minister Mary Coughlan, applicants will in future be compelled to spend at least six months in rental accommodation before they can qualify for the allowance. Inescapably, this will have a serious repercussions for women in crisis pregnancy situations.

There is bitter irony in the support of Fianna Fáil backbenchers for a policy while, at the same time, they join pro-life groups in opposing the funding of stem cell research. Yet, sadly, Ms Coughlan’s draconian measure will inevitably send more Irish women to England for abortions.