Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I would also like to object to the proposal to apply a guillotine to the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010, which will have serious consequences for the lives of ordinary people. I would like to know whether those who drafted the proposal to cease the provision of support to a lone parent when his or her child reaches the age of 13 have children of that age. Do they realise that the outlay multiplies at that stage, rather than winding down? As most Members of this House are parents, they have some sense or idea of the proportion of things. One of the responsibilities of parenthood is to provide for one's children throughout their lifetimes until they are able to go out into the world. This terribly punitive Bill does not take that into account. It targets those who are least able to provide for themselves. We need to have an opportunity to properly address everything involved in it. The Bill that was originally presented was unacceptable under any circumstances. Its added dimensions, which were introduced by the Minister on Committee Stage, have made it even more objectionable than it was at the start. We are in a worse place now. This Bill is to be forced-----

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