Despite the spin being put on the budget in a variety of quarters, one category of people has definitely been singled out, namely, the elderly. We have heard contributions on all sides regarding the cutbacks. If one takes them in isolation, they do not seem like much but they are when one examines their cumulative effect under the budget. For example, elderly people in general are savers. DIRT has been increased which will make it almost a disincentive to hold on to savings. The telephone allowance is being abolished. As Senator Terry Leyden said, there is a security dimension to that measure, particularly in rural areas, of which I do not believe the Government has taken account. People over the age of 70 years will find they will not have a medical card. It is heartrending to read some of the stories in today's media coverage of the impact of increasing the prescription charge from €1.50 to €2.50, or increasing the monthly cap for prescription charges by almost another €6 from €19.50 up to €25. Those increases may not seem much to those of us in this Chamber or in the other House, but they are when we hear from people on the ground who are on a fixed income that the loss of €1, €2 or €3 makes a difference and the loss of €7 or €8 makes a significant difference. It is all very well to say, and for the Labour Party in particular to point out, that there has been no change in the basic social welfare payments, but all these little hidden stealth taxes, when accumulated and borne by an individual, have a real effect - I am not talking about the collective. When the reduction in the fuel allowance is also taken into consideration, coming into the winter, when all those cuts are accumulated-----

There is no reduction in the fuel allowance.

-----they will have a very adverse effect.

The Senator should look back on Fianna Fáil's plan for social welfare.

I am not talking about what happened in the past.

It was cutting €1.5 billion out of the social welfare budget.

With all due respect, the Senator should not single out one area.

With all due respect, the Senator is speaking out of both sides of his mouth.

Senator Paschal Mooney to continue, without interruption.

What is Senator Susan O'Keeffe's problem? Are you saying the elderly who make up a large proportion of the population do not care or do not matter and that the budget will not have any effect on them?

The Senator should speak through the Chair.

Is that what Senator Susan O'Keeffe is saying? What is she saying? What is her point?

Of course, I am not saying that. I am saying Fianna Fáil-----

Please, Senator.

Fianna Fáil has been out office for almost three years.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

My question for the Leader is that obviously there will be an opportunity for the Minister-----

The legacy lives on.

The legacy may live on, but for how long more are people going to make this old whine about what happened before? The Government was elected and given a mandate.

That is not what I said.

That is exactly the point.

That is not what I said.