Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister's reply raises quite a few questions. It is utterly cynical and disingenuous of the Minister to introduce the proposed amendments on Committee Stage. She knew at least last Wednesday, two days after the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill was published, that she was going to bring in these changes, and I do not see why she could not have published her intentions in the Bill instead. The way in which the abolition of the Combat Poverty Agency has been handled is deplorable.

What does the Minister mean when she says she wants to guarantee that information will be available to Government? The Combat Poverty Agency had a far wider role than that, which included highlighting issues and making information available to the public and to public representatives in a truly democratic way. How will it operate within the Office for Social Inclusion? Will the members of the agency be able to decide for themselves the issues that need to be highlighted? Does the Minister not think it is an unusual decision, in a time of increasing unemployment and in which we have not met our targets in reducing child poverty, to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency? Can she tell us what financial savings will be made from the amalgamation of the agency with the Office for Social Inclusion?

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