The Social Protection Minister has again defended her cuts to the dole for under -26s saying we have to be "more ambitious" for young people.

Joan Burton is putting laws through the Dáil today and tomorrow to give effect to the budgetary decisions in Social Welfare.

The Social Welfare Bill will give effect to budget cuts such as the dole for under-26s and the abolition of the bereavement grant.

Along with the cuts to supports for older people the cuts in the dole for younger people have been the ones to cause the greatest unease. Minister Burton says she believes the cuts are absolutely right.

But she has been compared to a former Tory Minister in the 1980s who effectively told people to get on their bike and look for work.

The charge came in the Dáil from Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins. He says Minister Joan Burton is comparable to Lord Tebbit in Britain.