Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that, but we only received the Minister's presentation before the meeting commenced. I am surprised by one of the lines in her contribution. She said: "I am conscious that changes to schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection have placed further pressure on the community child care sector." Was it not a whole-of-government approach? Was there not a collective Cabinet decision? I am disappointed that the Minister has tried to put the blame on another Department, which is what her comment suggests. The reason for having a Department and a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for children was to ensure such issues would be fought for at Cabinet level.