Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The PPARS fiasco is not an enhancement and has so far cost the taxpayer €150 million. Does the Taoiseach realise it would cost in the region of €151 million, a comparable figure, to fund the extension of paternity benefit and maternity and paternity leave over a three-year period up to 2008, as estimated by the National Women's Council of Ireland in its recent comprehensive proposals on child care? What measures will the Government introduce to ensure the best standards of care for children, whether that care is provided in the home by one or more parents or in part-time child care?

Will the Taoiseach ensure his Government dispenses with consultants and instead consults parents and children on their needs? Only in this way can one properly be informed of the depth of need in our society in this regard. Will the Taoiseach affirm a commitment to the needs of children? He failed to say in his reply whether the Government will provide an extension of full medical card cover to all children under 18 years of age.

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