John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I am concerned with the definition of a "qualified child" and seek some clarity from the Minister with regard to this section of the Bill. In terms of child benefit, a child is deemed to be no longer a child once he or she reaches 18. In terms of a qualified child payment to a parent in receipt of social welfare, an 18 year old is deemed to be an adult. There seems to be a serious anomaly there that the Minister must address. We cannot have two different definitions of a child, one relating to child benefit and the other relating to the qualified child payment. I ask the Minister to clarify that.

I refer to the proposed removal of the words, "who is ordinarily resident in the State". Does that mean that a person living in this State is entitled to receive child benefit for a child or children who do not live within the State?

Deputy Joan Collins made reference to direct provision earlier, about which I have serious concerns. I wish to focus on child benefit in particular. Does the aforementioned change include the payment of child benefit to the parents of children who were born in direct provision?

Would the Minister consider increasing the qualified child payment as opposed to applying a universal increase to child benefit, as a more targeted approach in the effort to eradicate child poverty? In the context of the earlier debate about Sinn Féin's proposals for more targeted measures, we believe that the qualified child payment is a means of directing financial support to specific groups in order to lift children out of poverty.

I ask the Minister to provide clarity on these issues.