Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to avoid commissioning a huge number of reports because there is a cost to that, administrative problems in doing it and, potentially, the inability to respond to a huge number of reports that may make recommendations that cannot be funded. I agree with Deputy Kenny: what is the point in having a huge number of reports on which one cannot necessarily act? The sense I have from members from all the parties opposite is that they would particularly like a report on one-parent families and lone parents.

Picking up on something Deputy Brady mentioned, I read the Sinn Féin submission in detail and I acknowledge that the party proposes an increase in the amounts awarded under FIS. It also proposes a three-year increase for the carer's allowance, which is less than I hope Sinn Féin Deputies will vote for when they vote on this Bill. The party proposed no increase to many weekly payments. Any budget is about choices.