Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

For some months a group of officials have been working on the implementation plan. It arose from our consultations with lone parent groups who made it clear that income was one aspect of the problem. Aspects such as flexible working hours, child care and access to education and training, as mentioned by Deputy Crowe, should be addressed in tandem. We committed to developing proposals and plans in those areas to complement changes made in legislation with regard to income. Rapid progress is being made and we should have legislation, including an implementation plan, before the Houses in the coming months. Deputy Stanton and I do not agree on this matter. The country must make substantial changes in this area. It is not a political issue and anyone who wishes to take a cheap shot and wreck these proposals can easily do so. All one needs to do is to return to the shibboleths of the past.

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