Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

What is the purpose of the sub-committee on social inclusion, children and integration? Which Minister is responsible for convening it? This shows more clearly than anything the level of priority and consideration that this Government gives to the concepts of social inclusion, protection of children and the integration problems in our schools and the wider society. The specific Cabinet sub-committee responsible for these important areas of Government policy has not met since February, yet Ministers of State are appointed with responsibility for children and integration. We have more Ministers of State and advisers than ever, yet this sub-committee has not met since February. This speaks volumes of the lack of priority that the Government gives to these areas, and what it thinks about poverty and social exclusion in this country.

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