Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The second tier is included in the programme for Government but the lack of consensus makes it difficult. The Government was aware of the lack of consensus on this when it was included in the programme for Government, which makes one wonder what exactly goes on at the negotiations in regard to what is to be included in that programme. The programme for Government is like a book of fiction if this is what can be said after the event. The programme for Government contains commitments in terms of what is to be delivered in five years. I accept the first line states "in economic circumstances" but the Minister did not make that argument when responding to the amendment.

I appreciate the Minister's remarks in respect of the children's strategy and the report of the Ombudsman for Children last year, which dealt mostly with teenagers who also stated that their families are the most important people in their lives. That is good as it shows that overall children are happy. However, children not only know the circumstances in which they are living but are aware of the circumstances in which their peers are living, which is where the difficulty arises. The Minister, as former Minister for Education and Science, and everybody else, will accept that one can tell immediately when one enters a classroom what children are living in poverty, even if one knows nothing about their backgrounds, by the condition of their clothes, hair and skin, which is sad.

I will not press the amendment. However, if substantial progress has not been made on this following publication of the report on FIS, I will return to this issue. While there are many payments available in this area, the reality is that children remain the most vulnerable group and that these payments are not removing enough of them from that group at a rate we would like. It is important we introduce measures that target children who are most in need. Currently, this is not being done effectively.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

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