Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date on raising the issue of payment of child benefit in respect of non-resident children at EU level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15361/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The social security rights of people moving around the EU are governed by EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009. These Regulations, which have been in existence in one form or another since 1959, are designed to co-ordinate the social security systems of the various Member States so that people and their families are not disadvantaged when they move within the EU. A key principle of the coordination system is that persons moving to different Member States are subject to the same obligations and enjoy the same benefits as the nationals of those Member States. With few exceptions, it is the country of employment which receives the social security contributions and which is generally responsible for the payment of benefits. Commitments in the Government Programme centre around the payment of child benefit for non-resident children.

Irish child benefit is classed as a family benefit under EU Regulations and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland, and who pay Irish social security contributions, are entitled to receive child benefit in respect of their families, even if the family resides in another EU Member State. The equality provisions of the Regulations require that these payments are made at the same rates applicable to a person whose family is resident in Ireland. These provisions are seen as important in an EU context for the role they play in encouraging and facilitating the free movement of EU citizens.

The normal procedure for amending EU legislation is that a formal proposal is put forward by the EU Commission and this is then discussed and refined at various working parties and groups before being approved by a Council of Ministers. The proposal is then considered by the European Parliament in consultation with the Council. In order to make progress on the commitment in the Programme for Government it is necessary to enlist the support of other countries and the EU Commission.

I met EU Commissioner Andor on his recent visit to Dublin and took the opportunity to formally raise the child benefit issue with him. I have also raised this informally with Ministers from other EU countries, and will continue to do so through bilateral contacts at meetings such as the forthcoming EPSCO Council meeting.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15347/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", which was published in 2006, proposed that the category of lone parenthood would be abolished. Instead, a parental allowance would be made to all parents (living alone or with a partner) with young children on a low income. Since the launch of the discussion paper, extensive consultation has taken place with relevant stakeholders and lone parent representative groups. Discussions have also taken place in the Seanad and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs. Work has also been undertaken with other relevant Departments and Agencies on the non-income issues raised in the paper – namely, education supports, child care, training and employment.

Changes in recent Budgets, including increases in the One-Parent Family Payment's (OFP's) earnings disregard and the streamlining of increases for qualified children are in line with the recommendations contained in the paper.

While it has not been possible to progress the proposals as outlined in the discussion paper, due, in part, to current economic conditions, these proposals have informed deliberations regarding the reform of the OFP scheme and continue to inform considerations regarding future policy in respect of lone parents.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the restoration of the minimum wage was included in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill rather than in a finance Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15344/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Jobs Initiative introduced a package of measures to assist in employment generation, provide opportunities for those who have lost their jobs and generate confidence in the economy. The various tax changes announced in the Jobs Initiative are being carried in the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011. These measures include reductions in VAT and the Air Travel Tax and the introduction of a levy on pension schemes. As the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 is a Money Bill, it cannot include non-Money Bill items, such as the increase in the national minimum wage.

The increase in the national minimum wage and a number of other legislative amendments of a non-Money Bill nature arising from the Jobs Initiative are being progressed in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011. These other items include the reduction in the lower rate of employer PRSI, which involves amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the National Training Fund Act 2000. The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 also contains amendments to certain employment legislation to facilitate the introduction of the new Internship Scheme. The national minimum wage will be restored to its previous level of €8.65 an hour from 1 July.