Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister and the Chairman well in their new positions. I will be very brief because most of the questions I had have been addressed. I have one question in particular relating to the Minister's predecessor. Her predecessor made a huge public relations own goal with the campaign "welfare cheats cheat us all". Will the Minister be continuing that culture in her Department? In our opinion, and I believe I can speak for most of the members of this committee, it was a pretty vile move by the Minister's predecessor to have the Department target a small section of social welfare expenditure. It was extremely unfair and a public relations disaster for Deputy Varadkar and the Department. That is one question.

I have another question, which is perhaps not a question. I saw a film over the summer called "I, Daniel Blake". I am not sure if the Minister has seen it. It is a film by the English director, Ken Loach. It is a really good film. I am sure the Minister has heard of Ken Loach. He is a really good director. If the Minister watches it she will see what the film relates to. There are parallels between what is happening to the social welfare system in Britain and what is happening in Ireland, particularly with regard to Seetec. I think the Minister will enjoy the film. Perhaps when she has seen it we can touch base with one another.