Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

Is it not clear that the 1997 social inclusion programme failed? Is it not clear that we have failed to reduce the level of consistent poverty to 2% by 2007? The 7% figure means 300,000 people are considered as being in poverty. Is that not the position? Did I not argue here four years ago that the figures used by the ESRI were outdated, outmoded and in need of modernisation? Were they retained because they showed that consistent poverty was falling, when we all knew that not to be the case outside? Surely it is hard to argue against the UNICEF report to which Deputy Boyle referred, which ranked us 22nd out of 25 countries. Does that not reflect what emerged when factors evaluated to assess consistent poverty were upgraded and modernised? Is that not the problem?

I acknowledge that we have made progress, but it is not nearly as impressive or worthy as some have tried to portray it. Should we not all hang our heads in shame that such a significant proportion of people remain in poverty, particularly children? What policies does the Minister have to tackle that? Will this part of the social partnership be addressed and ensure that the objectives set out therein are achieved?

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