Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept the contentions made in respect of the matters raised by the Deputies. The question of the elimination of poverty in the past ten years has been very successfully dealt with in many respects, although unfortunately the concept is still with us. The social partnership process has been instrumental in devising policies which have been most helpful to people who have been socially or economically deprived. That process should not be underestimated in terms of the continuing contribution it will make to safeguard to the greatest extent possible many of the advances we have made in this whole area.

While I respect the agency concerned and it will be brought into the Office for Social Inclusion, it is not the only body where advocates for poverty are located.

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