Fianna Fáil have said the new list of social welfare defrauders will be meaningless.
The government considered plans at yesterday’s cabinet meeting to name and shame anyone who defrauds the state for more than €5,000.
Leo Varadkar had to row back on his initial plans, which involved publishing the names of everyone involved in social welfare fraud.
After a backlash against his ‘Welfare Frauds Cheat Us All’ advertising campaign and complaints from Fianna Fáil, he changed the plans to introduce the €5,000 threshold.
There’s been significant backlash against the scheme – with Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed raising concerns it may be in breach of the Data Protection Act.
Fianna Fáil’s Social Protection spokesperson Willie O’Dea says ultimately the measure is meaningless.
Sinn Féin have also criticised the move – calling it a hate campaign.
The bill is still expected to pass when it eventually comes to the Dáil floor.
