Mattie McGrath: Says Budget Discriminates Against Large Families
Mattie McGrath challenged the Budget's treatment of large families, calling the payment discriminatory and insufficient. He argued that carbon tax and the absence of rural public transport disproportionately burden larger households and said the Finance Bill locks in the cost for nine years.
Main accusation
The deputy described the allocation as "basic naked discrimination" against large families and criticised the size of the payment in the context of the overall Budget. He noted Deputy Nocturne had outlined the issue and said the minister had been disappointed with their response.
Impact of carbon tax and rural costs
He highlighted the impact of the carbon tax, saying it will be in place for the next nine years as set out in the Finance Bill, and that families face increased expenses. He emphasised that rural households are particularly affected because they must travel and have no public transport, making the payment unfair.
Historical pattern and the term "mean"
The deputy argued this was not an isolated incident, saying larger families with three or four or more children have been discriminated against before. He described the payment as "a very mean payment" and referenced previous characterisations of "the 12 mean cuts linked to the WOD."
Equality for children
He framed his objection as an equality issue, asserting it is not acceptable and invoking "the fundamental basic human right to equality for all children."
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Yes, I'm the very same Deputy, Nocturne has outlined it, it is discrimination, and you said you were disappointed, Minister, with our response, it is basic naked discrimination against large families, and especially as, you know, with the impact of carbon tax, and we're going to have it for the next nine years, as was forced to, or voted to in the Finance Bill, and, you know, now the families have lots of expenses, lots of expenses, and if they live in the country, they have even more expenses with carbon tax, because they have to travel, and there's no public transport, so it is unfair, and when you look at it, as Deputy Nocturne put it, in the context of such a large budget, it is a very mean payment, and I think one time, who christened them as the 12 mean cuts linked to the WOD, this is mean, and it's not the first time, as it has happened, that larger families with three or four or more children are being discriminated against, and it's not acceptable, as I said, the fundamental basic human right to equality for all children. Thank you.
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