Policies must not attack vulnerable - Norris

SEANAD REPORT:WE IN this country played our own provincial role in the global economic tragedy, and it seemed as if the "economic snout was rarely raised from a trough that was regularly replenished with luxurious swill at the expense of the taxpayer", David Norris (Ind) said.

This had to stop. Mr Norris said they all had to buckle down in terms of the critical situation that confronted them. "In my opinion, the most important thing we can do is to support any reasonable policy of the Government in this difficult time," he said.

"But, in so doing, we must ensure that there is nothing contained therein that constitutes an attack on the most vulnerable, the marginalised and the poor."

Mr Norris said he agreed with US presidential candidate Barack Obama's call for a six-month moratorium on property repossessions. "I call today for precisely that kind of moratorium," he said.

It was significant that all the financial institutions in this State, including those that had been bailed out, were applying for repossessions. That was not tolerable, he said.

Alex White (Lab) said Fintan O'Toole had made a compelling point in The Irish Timesyesterday that, in the context of economic difficulty and spending cuts, there could still be planning to spend less and, in some circumstances, actually achieve more.

The example Mr O'Toole had given was in childcare. The reasonable and costed proposals of the National Economic and Social Forum, which had been supported by Labour, had set out a framework whereby a universal system of early childcare could be provided for less money than the combination of funds dedicated to the early childhood care supplement and the subvention scheme that had been debated in the House.

"That's the kind of thinking we need to bring to bear in relation to the Budget," added Mr White.