Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

There is a plethora of BMWs and mercs floating around this town and in the country generally because people are well-off. There is new wealth which can get in one's face and be fairly gaudy and a bit flash at times. It is one of the by-products of a society that is becoming wealthier.

I find the comment that there is less equality of opportunity a little harder to handle. Apart from any empirical evidence, there is evidence all around of the massive opportunities, including for people who find themselves in vulnerable positions. They can avail of back to work and back to education allowances, FÁS training schemes, family income supplements and more than 36 different schemes over eight Departments with €1 billion targeted to help people get back to work. The statistics show this has been quite successful. We have managed to activate thousands into work and back to education. I therefore take issue with that section of the report.

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