John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not withdraw the amendment. The report needs to be carried out. We need the provision in the legislation, not for the sake of it, because, as Deputy Kenny said, we do not want a report or document to be prepared only to be put on a shelf alongside many other reports that have not been acted on. It needs to be a factual report that ultimately will be acted on. I could have tabled a series of other amendments to the Bill asking the Minister to take measures to reverse some of the measures that impact on lone parents but, as I outlined in my opening contribution, my hands are tied as to the type of amendment I can table. We have seen numerous amendments ruled out of order because of a financial impact on the Exchequer. Having the measure provided for in this amendment contained in legislation, tying the Government to carrying out the report, is one part of the equation; acting on it is the second part.

I agree with the Minister's comments on welfare dependency. I and my party strive to end it and to get people back to work, but it is difficult when zero-hour contracts affect many of the people about whom we are talking and when the Government has failed even on the family income supplement. There has been no increase in the family income supplement to provide assistance to many of the people about whom we are speaking, such as lone parents, etc. The Minister can come into the Chamber and talk the talk, but problems occur when there is failure to increase the support provided under measures such as the family income supplement. That is what forces people on zero-hour contracts or in low-pay employment back onto jobseeker's allowance because the latter may be financially more advantageous to them because of the failure of the Minister's Government to provide an increase in the family income supplement. He outlined that some economists and politicians put forward proposals and suggest increases but fail to show where they will get the money from. If the Minister took the time to read through Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission, he would see that my party proposed an increase in the family income supplement and showed where the money for the increase would come from, in line with all the other increases and measures about which we speak.

Finally, regarding youth unemployment, the Minister said that the figures and statistics put out on youth homelessness are only that. He said there are no figures and no hard or concrete evidence to back up statements on youth homelessness. However, these are departmental figures that show that youth homelessness is on the increase. That can only be down to the measures that have been introduced. I welcome the marginal increase in the amount that young homeless people or young people in receipt of rent supplement must pay out of their pockets, but that will only affect in the region of 500 under-26s, so we are not dealing with huge numbers.

There are many issues in this regard. I am pressing the amendment. I will not withdraw it. The amendment seeking the report within six months is one part of the equation. We then need action based on the outcome of the report.