A heated procedural row in the Dáil this afternoon delayed the introduction of the Social Welfare Bill for almost an hour.
The Labour Party demanded a further vote on the taking of the legislation which implements the dramatic cuts announced yesterday in the Budget.
Two quorums were called, which require that 20 deputies be present in the House for the business under discussion.
And when the initial argument over whether the Bill could be introduced without a further vote was resolved, the Labour Party objected to the Minister for Social Welfare Mary Hanafin continuing her speech, on the grounds that she had no more time left.
Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk insisted that the Minister had been interrupted and should be allowed to continue, and after repeated points of order from the Labour party, the Minister was given a further four minutes.
The row began over a procedural issue when Ms Hanafin was about to start her speech and moved that the debate on the Bill commence.
Labour whip Emmet Stagg challenged standing orders and claimed that it was necessary to have a further vote before proceeding. Ms Hanafin said a vote had already taken place earlier on the order of business and continued her speech.
But Mr Stagg intervened again some minutes later and said there was precedent that when a Minister “moved” the taking of a Bill, that a vote be taken. Mr Kirk insisted that the earlier vote had paved the way for the second stage debate.
Further sharp exchanges ensued and the Ceann Comhairle rejected Mr Stagg’s claim that he had exceeded his powers by allowing the Minister a further four minutes.
In her speech, the Minister said she appreciated “that the cuts that we are making in the welfare area will not be easy for people but I genuinely believe that if the Government doesn't take steps now to reduce overall public expenditure and restore stability to the public finances, we risk making the economic situation far worse for everyone - including welfare recipients - in the long term.”
The social welfare cuts are estimated to yield savings of €762 million for the exchequer. Child benefit will be reduced by €16 a month, saving the State €221 million. Other cuts include changes in the jobseeker’s allowance, particularly for those under 24, to save about €94 million.
Ms Hanafin said she fully understood that “a wide range of other groups – such as people with disabilities, carers and pensioners – depend on the welfare budget for vital support”.
She insisted however that the Government, “in the context of a very tough budgetary environment has done its utmost to protect the most vulnerable people in Irish society”.
The Minister said that “€21.1 billion will be spent on social welfare in 2010, €676 million or 3.3 per cent more than the expected final expenditure figure of €20.4 billion for 2009”.
The cuts will “reduce overall public expenditure and improve the financial incentive for jobseekers to take up work or training. In doing so, we have avoided making any cuts in the State pension. We have also fully protected more than 420,000 children in welfare-dependent and low-income families from cuts in Child Benefit.”
The debate continues tonight until 11 pm and again tomorrow, when it will
be voted on at 6.30pm.