Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. I do not wish to rise to the previous speaker but, as someone who mentions his constituency now and again, I am interested to hear a colleague name almost every street in his or her constituency and that makes me feel comfortable. In deference to the previous speaker, the Minister is responding to what people are saying, which is important. I repeated the other day that of all the statements US President-elect Obama made last week, one that really struck me was when he stated that he will listen to people, especially when he disagrees with them. It is important that we all follow that, and I suspect the Minister will too.

I wish the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, well. It is not easy to try to look after people at a time when the economy is so challenged. Often I have stated that I can bring to my politics in this House my life experiences. I do not want to raise any remarks from other colleagues when I say that I was made redundant on three occasions and I can relate to the people facing those challenges. In fairness, it helps me to do my work and respond to the needs and the challenges of those families.

I would hope that the Minister will ensure that the Department will continue to respond in a responsible and caring way to ensure that those families affected by unemployment, especially sudden unemployment, are looked after as well as possible. There will always be restrictions and difficulties, but I always believe that the services of all Departments, especially the Department of Social and Family Affairs, should be consumer friendly and I would expect that such should continue to be the case.

Colleagues have commented on the need to look at different schemes and tweak their provisions. Reference was made to the back to education allowance and to the training allowance. We should be open — I hope the Department will be — to deal with these issues on a case by case basis.

I do not want to ambush the Minister on the number of claims being submitted. The rising unemployment figures have created particular difficulties and different challenges and some people have been left a little while waiting. The Minister has assured me and other colleagues that everything possible is being done in the Department to correct those issues and I would hope that she would continue to do so.

I compliment the local social welfare office in Tallaght. It is one of the more modern of the Department's buildings and provides excellent service. Indeed, all those years ago when I was unemployed the people there were very kind to me within the regulations and as I said, I hope that they will continue to be people friendly.

In a debate like this a great deal can be said and colleagues have made all sorts of statements. Apart from being a Dáil Deputy for one of the Dublin constituencies, Dublin South-West, happily, I am also Vice Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs under the guidance of my colleague, Deputy Healy-Rae. I enjoy that work. I was a member of that committee for the first five years that I was lucky enough to be a Dáil Deputy and it was work I wanted to continue because it is where I am at politically. As I stated, I came from a background where, unfortunately, I and my family members faced unemployment. When I was involved in the community in Tallaght where there was much unemployment and a great need for jobs, this was a matter on which I focused. Throughout my community work and my political life, particularly through my membership of the Dáil over the past six years, I have taken a particular interest in this area and I think it is important that we would continue to do that.

The Minister will be aware that I will never be afraid to speak out on issues of concern to me. Reference has been made already in the debate this evening to fuel poverty and the joint committee will meet Department officials on that issue tomorrow. Party colleagues and, indeed, colleagues across the parties, have concerns. I am not a bit afraid to say that because it is important, especially when one goes out tonight and inhales the Dublin air. I love Dublin, by the way, and I am a true-born Dubliner, but it is very cold out there tonight and those in a vulnerable position such as the elderly and the unemployed will encounter particular difficulties and challenges as far as fuel poverty is concerned. It is important that we continue to raise this with the Minister. Former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, often reminded us that one must remember the little boats; we must do so now in particular given that even the big boats are struggling. I have always brought to my work in the Dáil my own views about social inclusion, reared, as I was, on the political knee of my predecessor, Chris Flood. It is important that we would make the point that fuel poverty is an issue which should be dealt with.

Like everybody else, I have concerns. In fairness to the Minister, she has been fair about the Combat Poverty Agency to which I heard colleagues make reference tonight. I would hope that everything will be done to ensure a transition which is to everybody's advantage and that the staff in that organisation are facilitated and their expressed concerns are dealt with. I genuinely believe there is a need in a democracy for representation that continues to focus on the issues the organisation has faithfully represented over the years. The various other organisations, including CORI, that keep public representatives and Deputies fully informed about issues and add to our knowledge base should be supported by us. I would hope that process can continue.

On the point I made about unemployment, we should not take our eye off the ball as far as the need for job creation is concerned. While there is no question that the Department of Social and Family Affairs must respond where jobs are being lost — at a time when the economy is being challenged jobs will definitely be lost — the best way out of poverty and dependence on social welfare payments will always be more job creation. Even in a debate on social and family affairs, I am sure the Minister would want me to state the importance of focusing on the need to create employment and to ensure that the services of the State in the social welfare offices and in training agencies etc. are focused on getting people back to work and looking after those who genuinely seek employment. I would hope that message will go out clearly to all of the Departments and continue to be a strong plank as we move forward.

Reference has been made in the debate to payments for lone parents. I am sure the Minister will not mind me invoking our former colleague and Minister, the late Deputy Séamus Brennan, who, when I was chairman of the Fianna Fáil policy group on social and family affairs, certainly took a particular interest in that issue on which there was a long-standing debate and proposals made. That matter, like many of the others on the Minister's desk, is a work in progress. There is a need to continue to look at the cases of people who find themselves in difficulties, and almost in a poverty trap as far as payments and rent supplement are concerned, who are unable to get back to work and, therefore, jeopardise their payments.

Other lone parent issues raised in the debate under former Minister, the late Séamus Brennan, still must be dealt with. I take the view, without being flippant about it, that it is a nonsense to have council officials hiding in bushes to see who is leaving people's houses at 6 o'clock in the morning. Those days should be well gone. There must be a better way of dealing with those matters. I would hope that the debate to which I refer is not over. It is a work in progress and it should be dealt with.

The Bill makes reference to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. I do not know whether all Members will be aware that I live in Tallaght.

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