Eoin Hayes (Dublin Bay South, Social Democrats)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 4, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “(3) The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on extending parent's benefit by 4 weeks per parent, and increasing both parents benefit and adoptive benefit to €350 per week and the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within 6 months of the passing of this Act.”.

I thank the Minister and his officials for coming in. I have a series of amendments that generally relate to reports of policy ideas arrived at by me and my party. We would like to get a more fulsome sense from the Department of the costs and benefits of the various policy positions - not just the Minister's, but what the different perspectives could be on those policies.

This is the first of such amendments on the extension of parent's benefit. As the Minister is probably aware, giving children the best start in life can have huge economic and social benefits in the longer term, so we are very keen to make sure that that element of a policy framework like this works against disadvantage and we assess fully the economic benefits of it.