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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Dec 2012

Vol. 786 No. 2

Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed)

The following motion was moved by the Minister for Social Protection on Tuesday, 11 December 2012:
That the Bill be now read a Second Time.
Debate resumed on the following amendment:
To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:
"Dáil Éireann declines to give a Second Reading to the Social Welfare Bill 2012 because it unfairly places the burden of recovery on children, carers and the low paid and having regard to the failure of the Government to consider taxing high earners and wealth instead."
-(Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh).

It is important to put the debate in context. When I listen to the largest Opposition party, in particular, it seems as if amnesia has set in. This is the party that took €16.50 a week from the disabled and the blind, those who required the most help from the State. Its members have come here tonight ready to cast their votes, but they have brought forward no propositions. I understand Deputy Willie O'Dea's frustration and annoyance. If I was in his shoes, I would be the same.

Would you, Deputy?

I would be embarrassed. In its last two budgets before it left office Fianna Fáil slashed core weekly payments on which citizens relied. In our case, as a Government, we restored the minimum wage, maintained core weekly payments and have a plan to restore the country's finances. That is why there is positivity regarding the 2,500 places available on the Tús scheme, which will increase numbers to 7,500. There are 2,500 new JobBridge places, which will increase the total to 8,500 and there are an additional 2,500 community employment scheme places, with 2,000 new places in local authority social employment schemes. These are to be welcomed. They are activating measures that will move people away from the hopelessness they feel and bring them towards measures which will enable them to find work in the future.

The Government has taken tough decisions. Unlike the second party on the Opposition benches, it does not bring with it a partition mentality on the island. I challenge Deputies Martin Ferris and Mary Lou McDonald. A true sense of republicanism------

(Interruptions).

I will take Deputy Jerry Buttimer down the Shankill Road and show him what it is like around there

I know what the Deputy did; he should not worry. If we want a true sense of republicanism, let us have parity on the island.

Those of us who want to see an Ireland of equals are trying to achieve this.

Get the transfer, Jerry.

Sinn Féin's mentality and attitude is that it does not want the country to succeed in order that it can grab its supporters and wave its little flag. That is the reality.

Yes, yes; go away.

I would appreciate it if the Deputy allowed Deputy Jerry Buttimer to speak.

It is really very trying.

The Deputy is for nothing and against everything. Her little fancy world was-----

A Cheann Comhairle, what is that background noise? It must be very depressing for you.

The budget is one that many of us in the House would never wish to introduce because it impinges and impacts on people. Some €3.1 billion is not small change. However, the Government is committed to the renewal of the country. It is about creating a new Ireland, whereas the party on the opposite side which promised clever politics practises the same clapped-out type it has practised for 50 years. It is all about looking after its own and appealing to its support base.

The Deputy is going to hammer carers.

Look in the mirror.

That was Fianna Fáil's way. For 14 years it led the people a merry dance. The problem is that they now recognise it is preaching more of the same.

Protect the rich and steal from the poor.

Fianna Fáil's record in government is that it got rid of the Green Party, buried the Progressive Democrats and could not cope with the Labour Party. Now it has nobody with whom to coalesce.

The Deputy's party brought in the Labour Party.

This is recognised by the people. I am out and about every day. I knock on doors and listen to people. Their message to me is:"You have been given a mandate to get the country back."

That is not the message we are hearing.

That is what we are going to do and it requires tough decisions.

Jerry, you are so tough. I am so impressed.

It requires political courage to make decisions that will in five and ten years give people hope and allow my nephews and godchildren the opportunity to live in this country, be educated, find a job and raise their families here. That opportunity has been lost for the past 14 years.

If one wishes to consider the voodoo knowledge of Sinn Féin, one should look at its propaganda leaflets and manifestos. One should look at what it is doing in government in the North. It says one thing up there but something different down here.

Jerry, you are just so tough. We have no answer to that.

Sinn Féin is full of hypocrisy.

We are prepared to acknowledge how tough the Deputy is.

Do you mind, Deputy? You complain about this kind of thing and then will not allow the Deputy to speak.

We consider it revenge.

You not want to hear the truth because you were scolded-----

(Interruptions).

I will not ask Deputy Mary Lou McDonald a second time. Let all Deputies speak through the Chair.

Gabh mo leithscéal, a Cheann Comhairle.

The Government has increased spending on carers by almost €20 million. This year we are spending €780 million on carers, €520 million on carer's allowance; €23 million on carer's benefit; €132 million on the respite care grant and €104 on domiciliary care allowance. Some 52,000 people are in receipt of carer's allowance, whereas in 2001 there were 20,000.

This is about making decisions that will get people back to work and support an economy that is about the people. There is a focus on the respite care grant that many of us would prefer was not on it. This is not a cut that anybody in his or her right mind would make if it was a time of boom and bloom. However, it is a cut imposed on us because of the economic policies pursued by the Members opposite. I know and appreciate Deputy John Browne finds the narrative hard to take.

(Interruptions).

It is important to recognise that Deputy Willie O'Dea sat at the Cabinet table for almost 12 of the past 14 years.

The Deputy's party wanted to spend more and tax less.

The Deputy is full of hypocrisy. Thanks to the mandate of the Government the country will have its sovereignty restored. It will create jobs and is doing so now. More and more people are seeking to come to invest in the country. That is about a Government and the people working together. The budget will have an impact on the economic spend of the people. However, it has been framed with the overarching goal and aspiration of getting people back to work. If the Members opposite want to see Ireland fail, that is their business, but the Government is focused on driving reform, creating jobs and protecting the people.

What did it create?

Every day I meet people from all walks of life who tell me that we should get the country back on track and not to allow a situation to continue where we have to see our loved ones move abroad where there are jobs.

Get off the stage.

The Deputy will leave if he continues to interrupt.

Every day the Government rectifies the mistakes made. It is committed to the task of rebuilding Ireland. It does not have one eye on the opinion poll and the other on the ballot box.

It has both eyes on the opinion poll.

There were 14 years during which we saw this happen. There were greedy cuts and today there is this gargantuan hypocrisy. I understand the triviality and jocoseness of Deputy Willie O'Dea because I, too, would be ashamed of that record.

I find the Deputy funny. Is that okay?

I must ask the Deputy to complete his contribution.

As a Government, we will prioritise the national housing strategy. We will look at the report on child benefit in order to see how we can change the body of social welfare payments.

I call on the Minister to reply.

The Bill will not be passed tonight.

-----we will create 10,000 extra opportunities for people who are currently unemployed and locked out of the labour market. We will also be creating over 6,000 after-school care places.

This is part of the vision to which we referred last year in the context of supporting communities that are in difficulty and that are suffering the worst effects of the deepest recession the western world has known probably since the devastation of the Second World War.

I wish, in all sincerity, to inform those Deputies on all sides who made interesting and valuable contributions that as I discuss these matters with mothers and fathers - some of them are in employment while others unfortunately are not - they inform me about their priorities and they ask me, as Minister, to help get their fine young adult sons and daughters out of their homes and back into education, training and work. The Labour Party is all about work. Welfare is a substitute, a springboard and a method of assistance. However, as was the case with Connolly and Larkin, it is work which the Labour Party wants for those who are currently locked out of employment.

I listened to the sincere complaints on the part of a number of Deputies to the effect that there was not more time available to devote to the debate on the Bill. I regret that this morning some 90 minutes that were allocated in respect of the Bill were basically lost-----

That time was not allocated for the debate on this Bill.

We were exercising democracy this morning. The Minister should take her beating.

-----as a result of disputes relating to matters which do not relate to social welfare.

What happened this morning did not interfere with the debate on the Social Welfare Bill.

I have been here early in the morning and have remained late at night in order to listen to Deputies' contributions to the debate the Bill. I have heard people complaining - I accept that some of them may not have been here this morning when the rí rá was taking place - about the lack of time but I have been here all day and I have been ready and willing to listen to what they have to say.

The time that was allocated was-----

The Minister created a fair amount of rí rá herself.

Will Deputies please address their remarks through the Chair?

Savings must be made from the social welfare budget. There are no easy options, particularly as every cut or change will affect someone now or in the future. If we do not balance our spending with what we are taking in, the finances of the State will become even more unsustainable than has been the case since the introduction of the bank guarantee. Deputies on the Opposition benches should be aware that if the finances of the State are not brought back into balance within a reasonable timeframe, the people who depend on social welfare payments will suffer most. That is an unfortunate truth. Those who are well off will get by. It is the people about whom so many Deputies on the opposite side of the House are concerned who will suffer most if we do not get the country back onto a path of financial sustainability.

The Minister had no great interest in that when she was in opposition.

For a second year, there have been no cuts in the core payment rates of social welfare. By maintaining the rates of primary social welfare payments, we are ensuring that people will not have to worry about their main weekly financial support. However, this means that savings must be made elsewhere. I wish this were not so but unfortunately it is the case. The cut of €16.50 per week which the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government made in respect of various allowances-----

What about all the increases we provided?

-----including carer's allowance and disability benefit-----

When in opposition the Minister said these were not adequate and then after the crash they said they had been too generous.

-----was among those which were most felt. People still remember those cuts and the suffering to which they gave rise.

There will be a great deal of interest in the Minister after tonight.

Our pensioners still recall the loss of the Christmas bonus under Fianna Fáil.

The Minister's level of inconsistency is unbelievable.

Deputy O'Dea will be familiar with what occurred at that time.

The inconsistency is unbelievable.

When that cut was made, Deputy O'Dea was very hurt by it.

Deputies on all sides put forward strong views on the budget. It is difficult to take any income away from people, particularly those who are completely reliant on social welfare payments. Naturally, I am very sympathetic to all of those who are struggling in very difficult circumstances. However, the fact remains that cuts must be made. We are trying to do this in the fairest way possible.

I engaged in a careful consideration of the plans put forward by Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin prior to the budget. I noticed that Fianna Fáil found €200 million in unspecified fraud savings. In the current year, as a result of a very strong effort on its part, my Department made €625 million in savings in the context of reducing future expenditure on social welfare arising from fraud and misuse of the system. As a former Minister, Deputy O'Dea will know that none of this money counts as an expenditure cut. It is very important in preventing future rises in expenditure but, unfortunately, it does not count for the purposes of the budget.

I wish to refer to a proposal which I know to be very close to the hearts of those in Sinn Féin and which is continually put forward by them. I refer to the proposal for a social welfare amnesty. Deputy Ó Snodaigh has tabled detailed amendments in respect of this matter for Committee Stage. In all sincerity, I say this to him and fellow Sinn Féin Deputies that a social welfare amnesty could be something of a charter for people who have scammed they system to get away with what they did in the past.

What about the tax concessions-----

What about the cut to the respite care grant?

The Bill contains proposals to recover moneys that can go towards payments that are due not just to the social welfare system but also to pensioners and carers.

What about the tax amnesty proposed by the Labour Party?

Up to now, we have only been able to recover €2 per week from people. There has been a great deal of debate in respect of carers, those on disability allowance and jobseeker's benefit and pensioners. Recovering €2 per week from somebody who has been defrauding the social welfare system is simply not good enough for our pensioners. I do not understand Sinn Féin's logic in respect of this matter.

We do not understand the logic of having a tax amnesty.

We are talking about overpayments.

Deputy McDonald and others in Sinn Féin have been very vociferous in attacking the Labour Party. They have a long history of complex involvement in civil strife and insurrection. Labour is a social democratic party. This means that we cleave to the parliamentary, democratic way.

The leader of the Labour Party used not do so.

Those in Sinn Féin may not always have followed that particular route but I welcome the fact that they are going to follow it now.

What about the Labour Party's leadership?

This is so touching.

What about Deputies Rabbitte, Gilmore, Kathleen Lynch and Eric Byrne?

However, they are ill placed to criticise any of the democratic parties in Dáil Éireann.

I thank the Minister for welcoming me to democratic politics.

Those parties have stood by the Republic down through the years and have pursued policies of non-violence. We will not discuss the matter any further. However, Deputy McDonald is not entitled to hold out-----

I am very moved by the Minister's words.

What about the fascists-----

Those who are interrupting the Minister are the people who are continually complaining about matters. Will they allow the Minister to reply, without interruption?

The Ceann Comhairle did not intervene to protect me.

The Minister is encouraging us to interrupt her.

-----an explanation in favour of complex situations of inter-community violence. We do not have time to discuss this matter in detail but, as a social democrat, I have always believed in the ballot box. I will not apologise to those in Sinn Féin for that. I am sure the other Deputies in the House are also of the view that they do not need to apologise to Sinn Féin.

Deputy Donnelly and others referred to core social welfare rates.

Amendment declared lost.

The social protection system plays a very significant role in protecting vulnerable families from the problems associated with low income, including indebtedness. Deputy O'Dea referred to the issue of the rates of at risk of poverty and the incidence of poverty in this country, which is of concern to all of us. The latest data shows that in 2010 the at risk of poverty rate for people living in households with children decreased from 49.4%, when all social transfers are included. This is a reduction of nearly 31% in the rate for at risk of poverty. This reduction is twice the average of almost every European Union country. It is a tribute to successive Governments and all the parties which have been in this House that difficult as our economic circumstances are, and verified by EUROSTAT, our at risk of poverty rate is among the lowest in Europe because of the impact of social transfers introduced by a series of different Administrations over the years. This demonstrates the role played by social transfers and social welfare in protecting people from poverty.
I ask the House to reflect on two statistics as we debate these issues. The first statistic shows that 22% of households are jobless. Children who grow up in households headed by adults without a meaningful connection to the world of work, are the children most at risk of poverty. This country needs to develop a strategy which will transform the situation in jobless households so that one or all the adults are at work. The second statistic shows that 16% of the adult population of working age are in receipt of either an illness, disability or invalidity payment. Like the 22% of jobless households, the 16% of the adult population who are categorised as being unable to work, is one of the highest rates in Europe. In the case of people who are ill or who have a disability, we have a job of work to help people in those categories to get back to work. As Deputies on all sides of the House said, most people, regardless of health and other circumstances, want to be able to participate in employment at the level appropriate to their capabilities.
The best way to take people out of poverty is to have them in work. Some of the savings achieved by the implementation of the measures contained in this Bill will be redirected to provide additional spending in the key areas of job supports and child care supports. An additional €14 million will be allocated for after-school child care places targeted at primary school children. The places are aimed at low-income families in which the parents are availing of an employment opportunity. This initiative is part of the Government's overall strategy to support parents in low-income families to take up employment and to solve the problem of the extraordinarily high number of jobless households. In response to Deputy O'Dea during the debate yesterday, I said that I cannot understand how the number of jobless households in Ireland increased from under 10% to 15% at the height of the boom. No one has given an explanation for this increase.
I agree with Deputy O'Dea's point about child benefit. I suggest if he reads my contributions at the time he will see that I agreed with the then Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance. I was a strong supporter of the early childhood payment scheme. In my view, we need to rebalance the social welfare system to provide more opportunities and more services for children, in addition to direct cash payments. The Deputy put it well when he said that he would have preferred that approach although it was not always followed. Deputy Joe O'Reilly said because of his experience as a teacher he was very conscious of the effects of in-school supports for children, such as our proposals for the expansion of the provision of hot meals in schools and the extension of services for children at risk of poverty in disadvantaged areas. Deputy Adams will be familiar with the practice in the North and in the United Kingdom. Instead of a multiplicity of agencies and social workers all knocking at the same door, the service is consolidated to bring all the agencies together in partnership. Various voluntary agencies in the South have worked in this way. The approach has borne great fruit in Deputy O'Dea's own city and in different parts of Dublin, particularly in Ballymun. We want to expand that initiative to other areas in the Republic. I expect all Deputies to support it. I commend the Bill to the House.
Question put: That the words proposed to be deleted stand part of the main Question.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 87; Níl, 52.

  • Bannon, James.
  • Barry, Tom.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Butler, Ray.
  • Buttimer, Jerry.
  • Byrne, Catherine.
  • Byrne, Eric.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Coffey, Paudie.
  • Conaghan, Michael.
  • Conlan, Seán.
  • Connaughton, Paul J.
  • Conway, Ciara.
  • Coonan, Noel.
  • Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deenihan, Jimmy.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donohoe, Paschal.
  • Dowds, Robert.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Feighan, Frank.
  • Fitzgerald, Frances.
  • Flanagan, Charles.
  • Gilmore, Eamon.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Hannigan, Dominic.
  • Harrington, Noel.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Hayes, Brian.
  • Hayes, Tom.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Hogan, Phil.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Humphreys, Heather.
  • Humphreys, Kevin.
  • Keating, Derek.
  • Keaveney, Colm.
  • Kehoe, Paul.
  • Kelly, Alan.
  • Kenny, Seán.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lawlor, Anthony.
  • Lynch, Ciarán.
  • Lynch, Kathleen.
  • Lyons, John.
  • McCarthy, Michael.
  • McEntee, Shane.
  • McGinley, Dinny.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • McLoughlin, Tony.
  • McNamara, Michael.
  • Maloney, Eamonn.
  • Mathews, Peter.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Mulherin, Michelle.
  • Murphy, Dara.
  • Murphy, Eoghan.
  • Neville, Dan.
  • Nolan, Derek.
  • Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
  • O'Donnell, Kieran.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Mahony, John.
  • O'Reilly, Joe.
  • Perry, John.
  • Phelan, Ann.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Rabbitte, Pat.
  • Reilly, James.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Shatter, Alan.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Spring, Arthur.
  • Stagg, Emmet.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Timmins, Billy.
  • Tuffy, Joanna.
  • Varadkar, Leo.
  • Wall, Jack.
  • Walsh, Brian.
  • White, Alex.

Níl

  • Adams, Gerry.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Browne, John.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Colreavy, Michael.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Daly, Clare.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Donnelly, Stephen S.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • Ferris, Martin.
  • Flanagan, Luke 'Ming'.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Fleming, Tom.
  • Grealish, Noel.
  • Halligan, John.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Healy-Rae, Michael.
  • Kelleher, Billy.
  • Kirk, Seamus.
  • Kitt, Michael P.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Finian.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McGuinness, John.
  • McLellan, Sandra.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Nulty, Patrick.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • O'Brien, Jonathan.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • O'Sullivan, Maureen.
  • Pringle, Thomas.
  • Ross, Shane.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Troy, Robert.
  • Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Paul Kehoe; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
Question declared carried.

I declare the Bill to be read a Second Time in accordance with Standing Order 125(2)(i).

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed?

Deputies

No.

Question put: "That Committee Stage be taken now."
The Dáil divided by electronic means.

As a teller in the previous vote, I would like to give an opportunity to those in the Labour Party, in particular, and those in Fine Gael who-----

(Interruptions).

Show respect for the speaker.

Please allow Deputy Ó Snodaigh to make his point.

We can speak all night if the-----

If the Deputy wins the vote, he will------

(Interruptions).

Even better. If you want-----

I ask the Deputy to address his remarks through the Chair.

The Deputy does not know what he is looking for.

We are just hearing more blather from the Labour Party who want to close down the debate. If Deputies want the opportunity-----

What does the Deputy want to do?

Give us a printout.

-----to cast their votes again in order that their consciences would be clean and that they do not have to go on the walk of shame, I give them that opportunity to vote by other than electronic means.

The printers are ready.

Calm down, Deputy.

Question again put: "That Committee Stage be taken now."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 88; Níl, 50.

  • Bannon, James.
  • Barry, Tom.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Butler, Ray.
  • Buttimer, Jerry.
  • Byrne, Eric.
  • Byrne, Catherine.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Coffey, Paudie.
  • Conaghan, Michael.
  • Conlan, Seán.
  • Connaughton, Paul J.
  • Conway, Ciara.
  • Coonan, Noel.
  • Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deenihan, Jimmy.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donohoe, Paschal.
  • Dowds, Robert.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Feighan, Frank.
  • Fitzgerald, Frances.
  • Flanagan, Charles.
  • Gilmore, Eamon.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Hannigan, Dominic.
  • Harrington, Noel.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Hayes, Tom.
  • Hayes, Brian.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Hogan, Phil.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Humphreys, Kevin.
  • Humphreys, Heather.
  • Keating, Derek.
  • Keaveney, Colm.
  • Kehoe, Paul.
  • Kelly, Alan.
  • Kenny, Seán.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lawlor, Anthony.
  • Lynch, Ciarán.
  • Lynch, Kathleen.
  • Lyons, John.
  • Maloney, Eamonn.
  • Mathews, Peter.
  • McCarthy, Michael.
  • McEntee, Shane.
  • McGinley, Dinny.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • McLoughlin, Tony.
  • McNamara, Michael.
  • Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
  • Mulherin, Michelle.
  • Murphy, Dara.
  • Murphy, Eoghan.
  • Naughten, Denis.
  • Neville, Dan.
  • Nolan, Derek.
  • O'Donnell, Kieran.
  • O'Donovan, Patrick.
  • O'Mahony, John.
  • O'Reilly, Joe.
  • Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
  • Perry, John.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Phelan, Ann.
  • Rabbitte, Pat.
  • Reilly, James.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Shatter, Alan.
  • Sherlock, Sean.
  • Spring, Arthur.
  • Stagg, Emmet.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Timmins, Billy.
  • Tuffy, Joanna.
  • Varadkar, Leo.
  • Wall, Jack.
  • Walsh, Brian.
  • White, Alex.

Níl

  • Adams, Gerry.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Browne, John.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Colreavy, Michael.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Daly, Clare.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Donnelly, Stephen S.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • Ferris, Martin.
  • Flanagan, Luke 'Ming'.
  • Fleming, Tom.
  • Fleming, Sean.
  • Grealish, Noel.
  • Halligan, John.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Healy-Rae, Michael.
  • Kelleher, Billy.
  • Kirk, Seamus.
  • Kitt, Michael P.
  • Lowry, Michael.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Michael.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • McGuinness, John.
  • McLellan, Sandra.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Nulty, Patrick.
  • O'Brien, Jonathan.
  • Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • O'Dea, Willie.
  • Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • O'Sullivan, Maureen.
  • Ross, Shane.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Troy, Robert.
  • Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Paul Kehoe; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Seán Ó Fearghail.
Question declared carried.
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