McCARTHY REACTION:A NUMBER of Fianna Fáil backbenchers have welcomed the publication of the McCarthy report, saying it shows clearly the extent of the State's financial crisis.
But there were mixed views yesterday about how the cuts might to be implemented. A number of TDs contacted for their views said that example had to be shown from "the top down" before social welfare cuts could be implemented, while others believe "everyone will feel the pain".
Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath said: "I wouldn't accept that social welfare cuts are inevitable. The Government has a lot of soul searching to do in run-up to the budget" and the "measures will have to start at the top".
There should be significant pay cuts for politicians and senior public servants "before embarking on a redundancy programme" and social welfare cuts.
He highlighted the €2,500 paid daily to some tribunal lawyers and said that "it is inconceivable to ask people to take an actual rate cut in their social welfare while people at very top of the political and public service" are being paid at this level.
Chris Andrews, Dublin South-Central, expressed concern at the cuts for those "in the social welfare community who have already been hit". He said that "in the past there've been innovative ways of making savings in welfare, like those under-20 coming on the Live Register only get €100".
But he was concerned that "services like childcare facilities and drug treatment centres - the social infrastructures for people in the welfare communities are already being hit. So reducing welfare is going to be a double whammy."
"It's going to be a difficult period, but nobody expects it is going to be easy. So we just have to get on with it, listen to people, engage with them and cross your fingers after that".
Limerick West TD Niall Collins believes people would "accept the recommendations once the plan is implemented in a top down approach". In a statement he said that "in order to deliver on the recommendations across the board" people "will want to see issues like the quangos, excessive waste and duplication dealt with first before the areas of social welfare, education and health are considered".
Cavan-Monaghan deputy Margaret Conlon welcomed the report's publication "because people need to see that right from the top down cuts will have to be be made." Asked about social welfare cuts she said that "we must protect the most vulnerable" but "everybody will feel the pain".
Ms Conlon a former school principal said "I would like frontline services in health and education to be protected but I can't guarantee that".
