Richard Boyd Barrett: Urges Emergency Winter Payment for Disabled
Richard Boyd Barrett pressed the minister after joining disabled activists who say the recent budget has plunged them into poverty. He called for an emergency winter payment and a cost of disability payment to address the immediate hardship described by protesters.
He said he joined disabled activists and disability groups in a protest outside the Dáil, where protesters conveyed that budget decisions had left many disabled people in severe financial distress.
He relayed an account from a disabled person who described having to decide whether to set one bar or two bars on the gas heater he sits beside and who felt personal humiliation at having to use food banks for sandwiches because he cannot afford food.
He said protesters were pleading with the Government for an emergency winter payment to be provided to deal with the situation and for a cost of disability payment to help cover disability-related expenses.
He addressed the minister directly in the Dáil and asked for a response, pressing for immediate measures to alleviate the poverty and dignity harms described by disabled people.
Protest outside the Dáil
He said he joined disabled activists and disability groups in a protest outside the Dáil, where protesters conveyed that budget decisions had left many disabled people in severe financial distress.
Personal testimony of hardship
He relayed an account from a disabled person who described having to decide whether to set one bar or two bars on the gas heater he sits beside and who felt personal humiliation at having to use food banks for sandwiches because he cannot afford food.
Immediate policy demands
He said protesters were pleading with the Government for an emergency winter payment to be provided to deal with the situation and for a cost of disability payment to help cover disability-related expenses.
Direct question to the minister
He addressed the minister directly in the Dáil and asked for a response, pressing for immediate measures to alleviate the poverty and dignity harms described by disabled people.
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Transcript
Minister, I joined disabled activists and disability groups in a protest outside the Dáil this morning who were protesting over the fact that your recent budget has plunged them into poverty. One disabled person described how, for example, he has to sit down and consider whether he can put one bar or two bars on the gas heater that he sits beside and that he is now, and he described his own personal humiliation as having to go to food banks to get sandwiches because he cannot afford food. They were pleading with this Government for an emergency winter payment to be provided to deal with this and for a cost of disability payment. Will you respond?