Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have always taken an incremental approach to the eligibility threshold. To be fair, someone has to watch public expenditure within any governmental system. That is the role. However, we need to look at the situation in the round. That goes to the Deputy's point about universality of access to maintenance, child benefit and so on. Child benefit was always universal but that approach was questioned. When times got tough, people questioned that universality and asked should it continue. We have always held the line on the universality of child benefit but sometimes it does not get the provision it should because people want to target other areas. The argument has been made that because it is universal, it will cost a certain amount and that money could be used elsewhere. Does the Deputy get my point?