Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish the Minister well in her new portfolio and know she will embrace the work of the Department as much as she embraced her appointment. Notwithstanding my tongue in cheek, I wish her well.

I welcome the Minister's response. However, will she clarify what is proposed with regard to the commission on social welfare, when it is expected to be established and when it is expected to report? This is a critical part of the overall review of social welfare. Value for money reviews were published last year and these indicated clearly there would be a change in thinking from the Department. During the election, the issue of further reductions, in child benefit in particular, was considered a red line issue. In view of the programme for Government and the negotiations that have taken place since then, is it still the view of the Minister and of the Government that child benefit remains a red letter issue?

The Fine Gael proposals with regard to less waste, lower taxes and stronger Government are expected to deliver savings of approximately €250 million in the area of child benefit by 2014. How does the Minister square that circle in the context of trying to retain dependants' social welfare payments and at the same time achieve the Government target of saving up to a quarter of €1 billion in the area of child benefit? This target suggests there will be some form of reduction in child benefit or the family income supplement. Otherwise, the circle will not be squared.

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