Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The Government is required to produce it. When the matter was raised this morning by Deputies Jan O'Sullivan and Gilmore, the Tánaiste and other senior Ministers were in the Chamber. They were stunned because clearly they were not aware of the requirement. Now, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs has confirmed she is equally ignorant of the requirement to produce this document, because she has provided the House with some blather about something being done after the event. The Cabinet handbook is very specific about the requirements under the national anti-poverty strategy. It is not simply a matter of considering it. A statement of the likely impact on those at risk of poverty must be provided.

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