Ms Gayle Smith:

We really need to push the point that child poverty is a whole-of-government responsibility rather than one just for the Department of Social Protection. It is not good enough for other Departments to wash their hands in relation to secondary benefits. I am talking about medical cards and access to childcare, housing, education and maintenance. It is not just about the Department of Social Protection. If these are not aligned, any measure taken by the Department of Social Protection is going to be totally eroded. For example, some people might be evaluated as no longer being eligible for a medical card or that sort of thing. We need to remember that.

The other thing I will say in response to the Deputy's question is that my colleagues here today are some of the most experienced and most respected people within the community and voluntary sector. What we are talking about today is not ground-breaking. We have known all of these answers for years. The data may change and the figures may go up and down but the solutions remain the same. I have a pain in my face from saying the same things all of the time and I have only been doing this for a few years. I can imagine what it is like for the other witnesses. People in the community and voluntary sector should be used. They know their stuff. If the Department uses their knowledge, who knows what we could achieve?