Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The Tánaiste said that nobody would accept that a seven year old child should be left without parental supervision. Indeed, his colleague the Minister for Social Protection has belatedly acknowledged that the age of seven is far too young for cutting off the lone parent payment. Does he share that view? Is he saying quite categorically that seven years is too young? If that is the case, why does this remain in section 4 of the Bill?

Is the Tánaiste now making a commitment to the Dáil and, by extension, to single parents and all parents, that the Government will be delivering a Scandinavian model of child care? When might that happen? Does the Tánaiste agree with the Minister for Social Protection or not? Does he think that seven is too young to leave a child without adequate child care? Is that the position of the Government, or is it simply Deputy Burton yet again being a lone voice?

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