Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment my colleague, Deputy Shatter, on tabling this motion. He did so because of people's anger concerning what the Government proposes regarding a good scheme. It has been stated that the Government is reviewing the scheme by sending out forms to assess people's means, incomes and employment. I do not understand why people must tamper with something that works. There is a cost factor here but the changes are anti-family, anti-women and anti-children.

The Government is supposed to distribute taxes fairly. There is nothing wrong with taking care of children and families on low incomes. Women in Fianna Fáil's parliamentary party should put pressure on the Minister and speak up on this issue because the changes are an attack on women. Women will be deprived of the opportunity to get out of the home and into the workplace. If they lose the scheme, they will be pressured into giving up work and returning to social welfare payments. Some women may not even be eligible for social welfare payments.

Regarding the means test, the poor may be protected sometimes, but the middle class has been squeezed for too long. We are discussing people on low incomes who do not qualify for medical cards or social welfare payments, but who pay for everything. Nothing is wrong with subsidised child care facilities. The system works well. I have been contacted by people from west, south, east and north Mayo who have good community facilities operating on a voluntary basis.

The Government should not proceed with its proposals and should leave the scheme alone because it is working. Tomorrow, Fianna Fáil's female Deputies and Senators should send a deputation to the Minister and the Taoiseach to tell them the changes will not be allowed to take place because they are an attack on women, particularly women in rural Ireland.

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