TÁNAISTE AND Labour leader Eamon Gilmore’s pre-election promise that his party would not agree to further cuts in child benefit has been harshly criticised by Fianna Fáil social protection spokesman Barry Cowen.
A series of Labour Party backbenchers and family support groups yesterday insisted child benefit should not be cut, while Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton confirmed the proposal was being discussed but said no final decision had been taken.
Mr Cowen yesterday drew attention to comments made before the general election by Mr Gilmore, who told RTÉ news at the time: “The Labour Party will not agree to having child benefit cut anymore and Fine Gael need to drop their plans to cut child benefit.”
Mr Cowen said he wanted to know if media speculation about cuts at the weekend was an attempt by Labour to “soften up” the electorate ahead of the budget on December 6th.
“If so, it is shameful that the Labour Party would choose to play such a political trick on some of the State’s most vulnerable families. If the reports are accurate, this news represents the utter capitulation of the Labour Party on what it described as its ‘red-line issue’,” he said.
Ms Burton said: “Child benefit like a whole series of other things is an item that’s up for discussion and no final decisions have been made.”
Prominent Labour backbencher Alex White, who represents Dublin South, said the party should stick to its pre-election promise. “My stance on child benefit is the party’s stance on child benefit: that it should not be cut.”
Dublin Mid West TD Joanna Tuffy said the entitlement should be retained. “I feel very strongly about the principle of a universal payment. The whole idea of taxing or means-testing is not an option in my view. It was always aimed as a payment for the child.”
Tommy Broughan said Labour’s pre-election promise must be kept, adding that he believed Ms Burton would do her best to ensure that happened.
“We know she’s fighting a strong campaign to ensure the commitments the Labour Party made in the election will be adhered to. She’s a great fighter.”
The National Women’s Council described the €140 a month entitlement as a “meagre sum” and any reduction would lead to further hardship and poverty for many families.
Concern was also voiced by other groups including Barnardos, the Children’s Rights Alliance and Early Childhood Ireland.
