Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate those points. We have increased the amount of support available for the self-employed in terms of pensions and other supports in recent years, but it does depend on the number of stamps that are paid, so we will not see the full benefit of it for a number of years. People must have paid the right stamps. We also addressed the PRSI rate of the self-employed for pensions.

In response to the Deputy's second point, we are trying to help people out who are dealing with very serious challenges and who do not have the kind of income we all wish they could have. The reason we have disregards and means tests is to make sure the payments are as targeted as possible.

In recent years, there have been once-off payments. Those payments have been universal, with a view to the fact that many families who might seem to be on big incomes are under considerable income pressure because of the cost-of-living increases in the past four years in particular. Many working families who are above the normal thresholds for social protection are under enormous pressure. We were able to assist them, in particular with the one-off payments.

We are now moving back to more targeted measures, as we discussed earlier, to address child poverty, working family payments and also assisting people who are in especially difficult situations. I am determined that this system will affect those most under pressure and in most need. The social welfare system has always shown itself to be one of the most effective in terms of reducing poverty. It stands up to any analysis, EU-wise or OECD-wise, in that regard. That is not to be complacent. We have a lot more work to do in that space and I will continue to do it.