This morning, the Taoiseach opened a cost-of-disability summit. Immediately prior to him doing so, the Minister for Social Protection was on “Morning Ireland” and refused to commit to a cost-of-disability payment in the forthcoming budget. Over the past month, the Government refused to introduce targeted energy credits that would benefit people with disabilities. Earlier this year, it refused to support my motion for an emergency payment for people with disabilities. In that debate, the Minister for Social Protection refused to acknowledge the lived experience of people with disabilities choosing between heating and eating. Shockingly, in an appalling act of cruelty, the Government cut the incomes of disabled people by €1,400 in the budget. It has been 30 years since a cost-of-disability payment was first mooted. Will the Government commit to its introduction in the forthcoming budget?

Sentiment score: -0.06