PBP to call for Dáil debate this week on Department of Health Leak
People Before Profit- Solidarity have said that the government’s cost of living measures announced last week were “utterly pathetic and inadequate” and do not go far enough.
TD Richard Boyd Barrett said that People Before Profit would introduce measures such as cutting the USC for those earning under €90,000, increase a number of tax bands above €90,000, introduce free public transport, cap energy prices and bring rents back to affordable levels.
He said: “The government’s measures announced last week are utterly pathetic and inadequate to deal with the cost of living crisis which is hammering working people all over the country. People are seeing enormous rises in their energy bills, fuel costs and shopping costs, whilst rents continue to soar. It should be noted that whilst ordinary people yet again are being hammered, there are a few who are creaming it- the landlords and energy companies. And yet the government do nothing that would interfere with their profits.
“The government’s refusal to do anything about the USC, which was supposed to be a temporary measure, and one which was campaigned against by many people who currently sit in government is something which really irritates people.
“We would cut the USC for those earning under €90,000, increase a number of tax bands above €90,000, introduce free public transport cap energy prices and bring rents back to affordable levels.”
Speaking on the Department of Health leak, reported in the Business Post, Gino Kenny TD said:
“I will be calling for a debate on the Department of Health leaks this week in the Dáil. I will specifically be seeking a discussion on the matter of recruitment and retention, targets and waiting lists.
“It is scandalous that we learned from the Business Post at the weekend of HSE ‘fake recruitment targets’ and of recruitment shortfall of 4,500 out of a target of 10,000. This is a recruitment and retention crisis in our health service that in turn creates ever longer waiting lists.
“649 children are waiting for life changing orthopaedic surgery – some are waiting so long their condition is inoperable before they are called. 75,000 people are waiting for inpatient and day patient treatment. Over 600,000 are waiting for out-patient care. This is totally unacceptable.
“I will also be challenging Robert Watt and Paul Reid on these matters at tomorrow’s meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health.”
Speaking on the PBP Equal Pay for Young Workers Bill which will be moved in the Dáil today at first stage, Paul Murphy TD said:
“Last week the Dail unanimously condemned the lower rate of the minimum wage for those under 20 as ‘flagrant discrimination against young people’. This week People Before Profit are introducing our Equal Pay for Young Workers Bill to end that discrimination once and for all. The Minimum Wage in this country is already too low, allowing wages as low as €7.35 is a disgrace. Our bill would directly raise the wages of over 10,000 young workers earning less than the minimum wage, but it would also help to raise the floor for all workers, challenging the race to the bottom.”
Solidarity TD Mick Barry raised the issue of Defence spending:
“The Committee on Defence Forces’ Level Of Ambition 3 option to increase Ireland’s defence spending to €3billion a year is sheer madness. Ireland does not need fighter jets and twelve naval vessels. Any extra money spent on the Defence Forces should be spent on ending the scandal of low pay in the forces which makes it so difficult to recruit and retain staff. Instead of spending €3 billion on the military the bulk of that money should be spent on tackling the housing crisis.”