Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I am disappointed with the Minister's response. On the issue of setting targets or benchmarks, will the Minister state how, in the absence of setting benchmarks, the adequacy of social welfare payments will be assessed? The Minister might also respond to a number of the issues I raised earlier, in particular, the position in respect of part-time workers. While acknowledging the so-called anomaly identified by the Minister, why is she going so much further than that? Does the Minister accept my criticism in regard to what she is proposing in terms of setting the bar at €300?

I raised specifically with the Minister the issue of cohabitation, which she ignored and spoke only about work. I am asking the Minister, for the third time, what is her thinking in respect of cohabitation and does she intend addressing this issue in the near future? Also, the Minister referred in her budget speech to making regulations covering mortgage interest supplement. Why is she doing this and what is she trying to achieve?

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