David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister note that the report also said the €1 billion could be spent more effectively? Does he agree with the report when it states there is now a wealthier but more unequal society than ever before? The report records that the richest 20% of the working age population earns 12 times as much as the poorest 20%, that there is less equality of opportunity in Ireland than in many other European countries and this has changed little over the past decade, that 14% of households in poverty are headed by an unemployed person, a rise of 7% since 1994, that Ireland ranks 51 out of 56 countries in terms of equality of economic opportunities for women and has one of the highest penalties in pay reduction associated with motherhood and that 13% of Irish people are early school leavers with an employment rate of 18% and 63% for Traveller children. Only one third of those entitled to the family income supplement apply for it whereas a similar payment in New Zealand has a 92% take up.

Will the Minister not agree that this report is an indictment of Government policy to date and that its policy has failed on many fronts? Can he name one action he will take to follow any of the recommendations in this report to address these matters?

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