Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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In Ms O'Connor's contribution regarding high-earning families, I think she has indicated she would maintain current levels. A debate is under way nationally as to whether, at a time of scarce resources, we ought to be paying this to higher-earning families and I would be interested in Ms O'Connor's thoughts in this regard. As for the recommended threshold of €25,000, when Ita Mangan appeared before the joint committee to present her report she went to great lengths to state this was not a recommendation but was simply an example drawn up by the report's authors. As a committee, members told her that because it was the only example given, it tends to be perceived as the recommendation. The joint committee then asked her to draw up some other examples and I believe that is the reference, as members asked her to do that.

I have a question for Ms Loftus on cut-off points. She has indicated the End Child Poverty Coalition is in favour of reform. Had the coalition not been asked to appear before the joint committee to respond to the Mangan report, what would be its own proposals, were it simply appearing to outline what the State ought to be doing in this regard?