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Updated 21.53
The result of the final electronic vote on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill before a walk-through vote was called and the bill was passed.
THE DÁIL HAS passed all stages of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill this afternoon.
The bill brings into law many of the measures outlined in the Budget last week from next year and will now go to the Seanad for debate the week after next.
The bill, which was passed by 74 votes to 46 on a walk-through vote, enshrines cuts to the invalidity pension, maternity benefit, and the total abolition of the bereavement grant.
After the electronic vote, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh argued that the bill is contrary to the Programme for Government and should therefore require a walk-through vote which the government won.
Other measures contained in the bill include the abolition of mortgage interest supplement for new entrants from the beginning of next year, with existing recipients of the payment phased out over four years.
There was also a walk-through vote for the specific section of the bill that dealt with the cut to jobseekers’ allowance for under-26s, following a request by the independent TD Stephen Donnelly.
The chamber was empty for much of the day, only filling up for votes.
TDs from the opposition side of the house regularly complained about the lack of time being given to debate the bill and its various sections.
The legislation was debated yesterday and for over six hours today with all opposition amendments to the bill opposed by the government.
Of the TDs expelled from Fine Gael and Labour only Lucinda Creighton, Terence Flanagan, Brian Walsh and Billy Timmins voted for the bill overall, effectively supporting the government’s Budget.
Creighton and others abstained on a number of individual votes including one to cut maternity benefit.
The Dáil has now gone into recess until 5 November.
- First published 16.50
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How in hell was those conditions allowed to continue?
Surely some of the staff should have spoken up? A terrible situation.
You don’t try to treat animals like that if you have any form of decency!
It’s absolutely disgraceful how the most vulnerable in our society are treated. shocking
I totally agree with both of you, The most vulnerable in society the young and elderly must be cherished and protected especially from a cowboy like the owner of this nursing home.
Unfortunately, it is the residents who will end up being most effected, this was their home and now they will be moved elsewhere, very traumatic for anyone but especially the elderly. I hope they throw the book at the owner.
This residential home isn’t far from me, and it faces directly out to sea so imagine the wind chill alone especially during the cold snap last year. It is sickening to think that business men have been allowed to operate and profit for years from these types of institutions. My heart goes out to the residents and their families. I’m sure creevala and ross trevor are only the tip of the iceberg in these investigations.
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