Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I support my colleague, Deputy Enright, on these amendments. I have twice served on the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, an experience which has allowed me to understand the benefits of the Combat Poverty Agency. Fine Gael has clearly outlined our difficulties with quangos, many of which exist for fairly spurious reasons. It is strange, however, that the first body which the Government has decided to abolish is one that has given us independent advice on poverty.

I do not always concur with my colleague from Louth, Deputy Morgan, but I support what he has said in regard to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The society's need for additional funds gives us an indication of the situation that the poor are facing. It is not only those on social welfare or the down and out who are being affected because many people on middle incomes have lost their jobs or are facing mortgage problems. They are trying to pay their bills rather than feed themselves. I urge the Minister to reconsider her decision before it is too late. The Combat Poverty Agency has been very straightforward and has done its job in an apolitical fashion. It puts together facts and delivers them for the use of the Government as well as other people, such as those of us in Opposition.

This is a devious device, which is not in the Minister's nature. It is creating a wall of silence with regard to this group that should not pertain. Perhaps we can encourage the Minister to rethink what she is doing. She cannot take this organisation into the structures of the Department and ensure it will be able to speak with a completely independent voice. That is not possible. Will the Minister tell us exactly what savings will be created by doing this and how it can be justified?

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