INDEPENDENT TDs Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry will be put under pressure tomorrow in a Dáil debate on a private members’ motion against the decision to cut the double Christmas social welfare bonus payment.
The social welfare cut does not need legislation to come into effect and can instead be made simply by way of regulation. It is expected to save €200 million.
Labour TD Róisín Shortall said: “Deputies like Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rea . . . will now have to decide where they stand on this crucial issue.”
Mr Lowry said the motion was “just typical” of Labour and he insisted he had forced concessions from the Government earlier to protect social welfare rates.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said no Minister would have chosen to cut Christmas welfare bonuses, “but there was no choice”.
