Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I accept the Government has difficult choices to make. We have considered these choices and none of them is easy, but the Taoiseach is not being honest and open with the people in respect of this. He said everything is on the table, yet the Irish Independent produced a detailed plan backed up with statements by a Government spokesman. The article states the Government intends to ensure fairness across the board but it would not be fair to introduce a flat rate cut in child benefit, as that would impact unduly on lower income families, and, to achieve fairness, they would be given a higher amount under a qualified child allowance. However, the Government will have to ask the Revenue, according to its information, who are the high income earners in the country who would then have to voluntarily submit this information to Government. Whoever dreamt up this concoction in the Department of Social and Family Affairs needs to be called into the Taoiseach's office and asked about administrative nightmares.

Hundreds of thousands of families do not believe the Government when it says it wants to be fair, open and honest about this. They believe there is a secret plan at the heart of this and the Government is moving to cut child benefit in the December budget. This follows the nightmares created by the Government over the removal of the medical card for the over 70s, income levies, job losses, negative equity, increased third level registration fees and school transport charges and a range of other measures. The one universal payment made in respect of each child in the country is child benefit and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs says she now wants to adhere to the principle of a universal payment. That does not treat all the children of the nation equally, as was set out in 1916 and many times since.

I am prepared to say that it is possible to achieve the required savings without touching child benefit. Will the Taoiseach put families at ease and at least say he is hearing the clarity of decision from the Opposition? Will he tell us he understands the anger of people and that this one area of social welfare will be left untouched by the knife of Government on 9 December?

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