Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their co-operation. In regard to social welfare, we all want to do our best here, genuinely, to try and help people. As Deputy Ó Cuív said, it is from the cradle to the grave. We impact on people's lives right throughout, and some people think the Department of Social Protection does not impact but the Deputy is absolutely right. It does, whether one has a child and gets child benefit, or whatever the reason, we are here to step in and help people when they need it. If they get that help, they can get back on their feet and on the road again. It is important that we look after those who have contributed all their lives by way of a pension.

It is a very important Department, and when I became Minister there were a lot of things I did not realise. We have responsibility for so many other areas. It is a big Department with more than 7,000 staff, more than any other Department. It is a good Department. Only this morning an employer who had been speaking to someone in the Department of Social Protection about some small issue - I do not know what it was - said he could not have met anybody nicer, that they were extremely helpful. It is nice to hear those stories and I want to acknowledge the work of all the staff in the Department.

I am glad to be in here because it is about how we can improve things. I thank the members.