Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes has criticised the Minister for Social Protection’s refusal today to withdraw insulting remarks he made during a recent Dáil debate on poverty levels being experienced by disabled people.
Deputy Hayes, who is the party’s spokesperson on social protection, said:
“Minister Dara Calleary claims he is engaging with Disabled Persons’ Organisations and is interested in their perspectives. Yet in the Dáil today, he refused to withdraw insensitive remarks he made during a recent debate, when he described their lived experiences of poverty as ‘misleading and dangerous’.
“The minister made his tone-deaf comments last month during a Social Democrats’ motion calling for an emergency winter payment of €400 for disabled people – a proposal that was shot down by the government. In the Dáil this morning, I gave the minister three opportunities to withdraw his insulting remarks, but he refused to do so.
“Despite announcing a public consultation process on the cost of disability last week, the minister does not seem interested in listening to the accounts of disabled people themselves, who have clearly articulated the intensifying financial pressures they face because of the last budget, which slashed their incomes by €1,400 compared to the previous year.
“At a protest march this Saturday, disability organisations – including the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access for All Ireland – will repeat their call for both a permanent cost of disability payment and emergency winter payment. I will stand in solidarity with them as they continue their fight.”
February 26, 2026