Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach mentioned the developmental welfare state report by the NESC. That report states that the welfare state by EU standards uses a moderate to low proportion of national resources in providing services and a low proportion in providing cash transfers. It goes on to state that some of that is due to sections of the Irish population not enjoying the standards of social protection which their counterparts in other countries enjoy. Does the Taoiseach agree with that conclusion of the report? Does he agree that despite being one of the richest countries economically in the world, we remain one of the most unequal countries? Does he concede that, as the NESC points out, the high level of means-testing puts this country's social welfare system in the shade when compared to a number of those of our European counterparts?

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