Sean O'Rourke Today Show

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

She certainly came across to me as someone with a sizeable 'chip' on her shoulder, and quite naive.

So, how much experience does the Brenner have with the inner workings of the Dept of Social Protection, or are you just another FG-supporting hurler on the ditch?

Right2Write wrote: »

How do you crack down on social welfare fraud without demonising some who are in receipt? One implies the other.

Details of people who illegally evade tax are published each year. What's good enough for these people is good enough for social welfare fraudsters.

I'm happy to collect and pay tax to assist others who can't work. But have no interest in funding the lifestyles of people screwing the system. And yes, I believe there is abuse of the social welfare system.

Local newspapers often carry court reports of people convicted of welfare fraud - it's nothing new, although Leo would like us to think he's come up with this idea all by himself.

What's funny (or tragic) about a lot of the people on this thread who give out about social welfare is that they seem to assume there won't ever be a day when they might have to rely on a welfare payment. They only see it as a "drain" on their taxes and nothing else. They'd probably be happier to see a reversion to the poverty-stricken Victorian era. They seem to forget that their job could be gone in the morning or serious illness could disable them in the blink of an eye, or they might find themselves having to care for a loved one.
The vast majority of those on DSP payments are genuine, although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise if you watch Leo's ads on TV. It's nothing more than a demonisation of those on low incomes and a deflection from those friends of Fine Gael who have pillaged the State of millions and millions. Have a look at the Moriarty Tribunal Report. It might open people's minds as to the real gangsters in this country.

As a taxpayer, I don't want to be supporting anyone who chooses to rip of the system by working and claiming benefits but I believe it's morally wrong to tar all social welfare recipients with the one brush.

Through my work I regularly encounter people who are in severe financial difficulties (mostly through no fault of their own - redundancy or illness). As Harry mentioned your personal circumstances can change over night, I've worked with people with decent jobs (nurses, teachers etc.) who were forced to leave work to care for a partner with MS, a parent with Dementia or a child with special needs. These people actually work for their benefits, they're not spongers. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge others?

A thing that always amuses me is the number of people who rave on about being good taxpaying citizens but they're very quick to ask their plumbers, electricians, painters, gardeners, mechanics, cleaners, childminders etc. if they will do the job for CASH. It's a bit of a double standard, don't you think?

Lady Chatterton wrote: »

As a taxpayer, I don't want to be supporting anyone who chooses to rip of the system by working and claiming benefits but I believe it's morally wrong to tar all social welfare recipients with the one brush.

Through my work I regularly encounter people who are in severe financial difficulties (mostly through no fault of their own - redundancy or illness). As Harry mentioned your personal circumstances can change over night, I've worked with people with decent jobs (nurses, teachers etc.) who were forced to leave work to care for a partner with MS, a parent with Dementia or a child with special needs. These people actually work for their benefits, they're not spongers. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge others?

A thing that always amuses me is the number of people who rave on about being good taxpaying citizens but they're very quick to ask their plumbers, electricians, painters, gardeners, mechanics, cleaners, childminders etc. if they will do the job for CASH. It's a bit of a double standard, don't you think?

Nobody here, that I have seen anyway tries to tar every social welfare recipient with the same brush,I certainly wouldn't and would oppose anyone who tries to do that.

Of course there should be no social welfare abuse in the great scheme of things, but we all know there is.

The Govt. working for the taxpayer has every right to try to minimise abuse, there's the bottom line.

This 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut' argument hold no water at all as support for that line implies support for insidious abuse of taxpayers money and really only penalises those who genuinely need help.

This business of 'career welfare employees' cradle to grave needs stamping out.

In fact the level of State subsidy for our population is frankly alarming.

Brid smith and her fellow travellers would, in my opinion anyway, be better employed , focussing on this aspect of our society rather than trying to ride the hard working taxpayer ragged ,climbing up on their back and p*****g down their necks.

Lady Chatterton wrote: »

We need to tackle all forms of fraud or questionable accounting practices - like business people who play with their business accounts so their children can get college grants. My Dad was an ordinary PAYE worker and I never received a grant but there were plenty of wealthy business owners and larger farmers whose children did, how is that done? Some creative accounting?

We're blessed in Clare to have a hardworking TD who according to his expenses worked every day of the year, including Christmas and Easter. https://www.fairsociety.ie/ladies-and-gentlemen-will-you-please-give-a-big-round-of-applause-for-fg-td-joe-carey/ However, I'm sure there are many politicians who have questionable/excessive travel and other expenses. Maybe Leo and his colleagues would like to take a look at this, I'm sure there is some fat to cut right there.

With all due respect, the subject for discussion on the SOR Show was the tackling of SW fraud.This is what I responded to on this thread and my responses are , I hope, fairly clear cut.

Welfare fraud/abuse needs to be stamped out and as a taxpayer I expect the Govt. to tackle that problem.

I fully support the campaign to crack down on the issue as it aims to divert the funds to those who really need it.

Trying to politicise the campaign and indulge in 'whataboutery' arguments for me is disappointing and just serves to muddy the waters to the advantage of welfare cheats.

I genuinely cannot see why people are so opposed to this initiative.

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's neither funny nor tragic, because it's untrue.
And this never happened either. You have a complete misunderstanding of what the piece was about and people's reaction to it.

Look, I've seen grown men and women in tears (following redundancy or a medical diagnosis)because they're afraid of how society will judge them for claiming benefits and this campaign adds to it.

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Normally I ignore people who start discussions with 'so' and personalise discourse.
Bit surprised Harry, that you would come up with that stuff, but be that as it may, as a taxpayer I support any action which directs my taxes towards people who really need help and and weeds out the gloamers ,and there are many, who tip around the edges doing 'this and that' and screwing those who really need the help.

That's about it Harry, I'm just an ordinary guy who likes to see my taxes go to the real needy, not to supplement the big 70 incher on the wall and the trips to Spain and Turkey every few months.

Whatever party has that policy will have my support, it's that simple .

Come on Brenner, tell us about all those social welfare recipients you know who go to Spain and Turkey every few months? Or are you just echoing the misinformed bullsh!t that Leo and his ilk like to disseminate?