Dan Wallace (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I also congratulate the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, on his performance in that Department since he took over. That we are discussing measures that will give effect to welfare payments and entitlements in excess of €13 billion says much about the rapid change in society during recent years. On the one hand, the country is doing extremely well and the economy can sustain these payments and this is evidence of one side of modern Ireland with businesses and individuals prospering and benefiting from this rising tide. The other side of the coin, however, is that there is a need for such levels of payments with people throughout the country dependent on the State for their very existence.

I welcome the fact that as a society we are in a position to make substantial payments to the less well-off but it is equally important that we continue to commit resources to tackling the causes of poverty so that we can impact in a positive way on the quality of life for many individuals who are in constant need of support.

It has often been said, but it is worth repeating, that the reason we have so much scope to offer meaningful and telling increases in rates of payment is because of the strong performance of the economy. Commitments made by the Government that the gains made by the State would be redistributed, to ensure all sectors of the community could benefit from the growing prosperity of our country, have certainly been delivered on. While some are happy to take these increases for granted and to be dismissive of them, the facts are that 1.5 million people benefit directly from these weekly entitlements and they cater for people in a variety of different circumstances. Adults, children, pensioners, the unemployed and people with disabilities, whether temporary or long-term, will all receive increased payments.

Many organisations are consistently articulating the views of the less well-off in society and working to alleviate hardship. The increases announced on budget day are an acknowledgement of the role these groups play in articulating the needs of their clients and in ensuring the need for ongoing increases in the rates of payment so we can further our aim of narrowing the gap between rich and poor in society.

It is now time to consider seriously the diminishing role of the volunteer in society. In addition to providing additional resources to individuals, there is a need to encourage voluntary organisations to prosper and expand. A defining feature of life in Ireland for many years has been the ongoing influence of volunteers working in their communities for groups such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Meals on Wheels and Care of the Aged, with the sole aim of helping others. It is fair to say the State could never hope to match the efforts and effectiveness of these people in making a real and positive difference to the lives of others. Unfortunately, in recent times, owing to the improving economy and consequent pressures faced by individuals, we are now seeing a reduction in the number of people prepared to commit to voluntary work. If one speaks to the administrators of voluntary groups, one is very often told that finance is no longer the key problem they face — instead, it is a lack of manpower.

We have a responsibility to encourage volunteerism and I welcome the fact that the Minister indicated that he intends to commit resources to go behind the payments and tackle the causes that trigger the need for the payments in the first place. A key part of this exercise should be to identify measures to foster the spirit of voluntary effort and encourage people to continue to play a role in their own community. Even limited success in this regard will have an exponential effect on individuals and communities across the country.

To further the ongoing and sustained development of the economy and the general spin-off benefit to the country at large, it is vital that we continue to provide a bank of educated and efficient workers for potential employers who continue to be attracted to Ireland as a quality location. The Minister has acknowledged that a wide range of reforms and initiatives are required as part of our overall strategy to ensure Ireland is ready to deal with the challenge of providing for the employment demands of the economy over the next decade. We have now reached full employment and any increase in employment numbers will have to be catered for through immigrant workers, encouraging people on the live register to take up work and, particularly, creating an environment where lone parents and married mothers feel confident that the appropriate structures are in place to allow them to return to work and have their children cared for appropriately in their absence. I am happy the measures the Government is adopting will help in our stated aim of providing opportunities for all sectors of the community and continuing to stimulate the economy.

The Bill should be acknowledged as one that has as its primary focus a requirement to cater for the needs of those who most in need in society. Its various measures will help to alleviate hardship, offer hope and improve the quality of life for so many people from many different backgrounds. It will do so through the provision of better services and fairer sharing of available resources. Through the pension provisions, it will seek to protect workers and provide for the financial security of citizens in retirement. There is no doubt but that these measures will make a significant impact in addressing poverty and will directly benefit the lives of many. I am pleased to support the Bill and I congratulate the Minister on its introduction.

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