Dáil debates

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Buttimer.

The primary difficulty with this legislation is one shared by the Minister for Social Protection. She came into this House last Wednesday evening and said she agrees entirely that seven is too young for anyone to seriously contemplate any of these things without there being a system of safe, affordable and accessible child care in place. She promised on that evening that she would talk to her colleagues in Cabinet. The budget was on 5 December and it is now nearly 5 May. Has the Minister not spoken to her colleagues since December? The groups that are campaigning, including those behind the "7 is TOO YOUNG" campaign, which are doing such wonderful work, have issued a statement this evening implying exactly the same, namely, that the Minister cannot offer what she called the Scandinavian model or pull the support, which she proposes to do by Thursday when this Bill is to be rammed through committee.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for having the courage to stand up to the Minister.

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