Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

-----not just lone parents, but more importantly targeting the children of lone parents. Less than two years ago, the Labour Party and Sinn Féin objected very strongly when Fianna Fáil reduced the payment of lone parents to the age of 14 in respect of children. The Tánaiste and his party colleagues were very vocal at that time. They understood full well that it was not fair nor was it defensible to make a move like that in the absence of adequate child care. At that time, they understood that children need the care, supervision and guidance of their parent. They understood that lone parents in particular need support as they care for and raise their children. They have really changed their tune now.

In its so-called reform, the Government will reduce the eligibility for payment to the age of 12, then to ten and then to the age of seven. Seven year old children are barely out of their infancy and the Tánaiste wants to force their lone parents back into a labour market at a time when there are precious few job opportunities. The Government's budget did not protect those who were least well off. In fact, it reintroduced poverty traps, put in obstacles to work, particularly for single parents, and well the Tánaiste knows it.

The Minister for Social Protection has said categorically that she now belatedly understands that seven years of age is too young, that seven year old children need their parent, and that the parent of a seven year old child should not be forced back into the labour market. Does the Tánaiste share that view, yes or no?

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