DÁIL ÉIREANN

Sitting Time - 15:30

Sitting Date - 22/11/2011

LEADER’S QUESTIONS

Deputy Finian McGrath: I wish to follow up on the issue of child benefit and its importance to children and families.  There has been much misinformed debate in the past 48 hours.  Does the Taoiseach accept the principle that child benefit helps to reduce the level of poverty for disadvantaged families and that a cut to this payment would be a nightmare for them?  Does he accept that child benefit is not a slush fund for the rich but is a huge help to families, particularly those women and children at risk in dysfunctional families where the partner or husband controls the purse strings?  All Deputies are aware of this in their clinics.  Does the Taoiseach agree that it is all very well for the likes of Michael O'Leary and other rich people to dismiss it out of hand, but for many families, child benefit can be a matter of life and death?  Does he also accept that if he was to dig deeper into child poverty problems, he would se one of the ways out of child poverty is through child benefit?  Does he accept that these are the facts for many poor families?  I, therefore, ask him not to cut child benefit.

The Taoiseach: The Deputy's question is the same as that put by Deputies Martin and Adams.

The Taoiseach: All of these matters must be considered and decided on by the Government.  In the past ten days there has been public comment on sickness benefit, child benefit, VAT rates-----

Deputy Robert Troy: From where did the rumours come?

Deputy Finian McGrath: What I stated was very different from what many commentators had stated in the past 48 hours.  I targeted the money provided for the most disadvantaged families, a key aspect of which is child benefit.  I ask the Taoiseach not to play games with this issue because it is a very important one.  Will he ensure child benefit is not cut because of its importance in assisting families to meet their child care costs and creating many jobs in child care services?  He mentioned job creation.  If child benefit is removed, this will damage jobs in child care services.  From an economic point of view, child benefit generates employment and a €10 cut would pose a threat to jobs.  On the broader issue involved, does the Taoiseach accept that if a sum of €150 million is removed from child benefit payments, it will destroy child care services and many jobs in the sector?  The Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is sitting beside the Taoiseach.

We all knew about the state of the public finances prior to the general election.  I, therefore, accept the point made by the Taoiseach in that regard.  However, does he agree that it was pathetic for Labour Party leaders to promise they would not agree to a cut in child benefit?  They did so prior to the election knowing the figures.  They made these false promises and are now turning their backs on women and children.  It is a bit rich and hypocritical to speak about having a referendum on children's rights when the Government is planning to take €10 from poor families.