Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The savings made by the Minister were far short of the target she had set, and this is clear from her reply. The same pertained to 2008. She has set a much lower target for 2010. Is that because she has failed to reach her targets for the last two years?

What else does the Minister plan to do? She has asked for useful suggestions. The Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, through Deputy Shortall, suggested rolling out a national identification card, something to which the Government has committed itself. When are we likely to see that?

The Minister will be aware of a case that went to court a couple of weeks ago. The gentleman involved collected somebody else's in the same post office as his own for 14 or 15 years. How did that happen? The clear answer is that there was no ID card and there was no requirement for a check to be made on that gentleman. People in the Dublin region have told me that they have gone to social welfare offices and have not been asked for identification. There is nothing to prevent people from collecting someone else's payment. When will a tougher, stricter approach be introduced? We have heard a great deal of talk but it has not been matched by action on the ground.

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