Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I support this amendment. Indeed, Fine Gael has tabled, along with the other parties, an amendment towards the end of the Bill against the entire section.

I do not know whether the decision to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency is one which the Government will regret, but it is certainly one that society will regret. After the decision was made, the Combat Poverty Agency's staff and former staff went on the record on the matter.

The Minister is hiding behind the fact that a review was carried out before the decision was taken. At the beginning the Combat Poverty Agency thought the review was a good idea because it was not afraid to have its operations examined to see where improvements could be made. After a few months of constantly looking for the terms of reference of the review, the agency eventually got them. They were shocked to discover that no mention was made of the word "poverty", the abolition of which is the agency's main focus. It was clear that decisions had been taken before the review was carried out because the Government knew the outcome it wanted. Over the past several weeks, people have discussed the various cuts made in the budget but the Government has used the economy as a defence. As the Minister has admitted, however, this cut will make few, if any, financial savings.

It is legitimate to ask why the agencies which the Government has chosen to abolish or amalgamate are the ones which have the ability and courage to comment on Government policy. The Combat Poverty Agency, the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority have commented when they were not happy with Government policies and now they are about to be silenced.

Every time we have discussed this matter, the Minister has failed to guarantee any degree of independence to the Office for Social Inclusion once it subsumes the Combat Poverty Agency. The people who work in the office have a job to perform and I respect them for their work but I do not believe they will have independence in deciding what to examine. One of the most positive aspects of the Combat Poverty Agency's role is that it decides for itself the issues that warrant scrutiny rather than following Government agendas. The agency was regularly commissioned by other State agencies, including the HSE and local authorities, to carry out research. I cannot see the Office for Social Inclusion having a remit in that regard. During the debate on Committee Stage, the Minister claimed that her Department is already conducting research here, there and everywhere. I tabled a parliamentary question to ascertain the research being conducted and received a one line reply promising a more detailed response. It is a pity this information was not available before Report Stage because it would have allowed us to evaluate the work being carried out by her Department before we put the Bill to bed this evening. I guarantee Deputies that the Office for Social Inclusion will not have the independence that the Combat Poverty Agency has enjoyed nor will it have the ability to interact with the community pillar in the same way.

I have seen the links that have been forged in my constituency between the county council, the HSE and the agency through working together on various programmes. One such programme, building healthy communities, was launched by the Taoiseach several months ago. I do not believe the Office for Social Inclusion will be able to build the same relationships with community groups.

Will the officials in the Office for Social Inclusion have similar expertise and backgrounds to the staff of the Combat Poverty Agency in terms of social policy and health research and community development? They may be equally qualified but it is important that they have experience in conducting research in these areas.

In abolishing the Combat Poverty Agency, the Minister is making a mistake she will probably regret. Sooner or later she will be on this side of the House and the Office for Social Inclusion will be reporting to the Minister of the day. The decision represents a real loss for democracy. The Government seems to view the agency as a bit of a nuisance that it could do without because it does not want to be on the receiving end of criticism. As Deputy Shortall noted, unemployment and the numbers of people who find themselves in financial difficulties are increasing. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul expects more people to seek its services over the coming year than has been the case for many years. Now more than ever, the expertise of the Combat Poverty Agency is needed. We will regret its loss in the difficult times to come. I ask the Minister to reconsider her proposal and, if she does not, we will certainly be voting against it.

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