Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed by the Minister's response. The PAYE credit was increased on about four occasions but the home carer's credit was never increased since its introduction by his predecessor, which implies that people who work in the home are regarded as inferior. However, we all realise that the people who are willing to work in the home to rear children or help older or infirm relatives are an important element of any community. I cannot understand why the Minister took such a peculiar attitude given that, in any other forum, he would laud the people who are willing to commit themselves to caring in the home. A degree of consistency is needed between rhetoric and action and a balance should be found between the needs of the economy for more workers and of families for people to work in the home. The Minister and his predecessor seem to have closed their minds on this issue.

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