Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

I will not repeat the points already made about the cuts facing us next week being brought into immediate effect. I will refer to some points the Minister raised. We are discussing child care facilities for couples who are married, cohabiting, lone parents and their children - it is all encompassing. As a society we must admit we have not delivered for anybody on child care. Child care is run privately for profit. It is not progressive in any way or for anybody but particularly not for the lone parents who are facing the cut-off point of seven years in two years time. There is nothing in place for them.

I mentioned Scandinavian child care and after-school care facilities because the Minister raised that issue last week. I did not raise it. When I spoke it was not in admiration. I stated the obvious and the facts because I went looking for and found the information on that model. I asked if that was the model on which the Minister will base hers. She did not answer the question which seems to be the order of the day in this Chamber for Ministers. Is that the type of child care facility the Minister will introduce? She stated last week it was what she wanted and she would not introduce this legislation unless the measure is agreed by budget day and introduced within 18 months. Again, there was no clear answer in any shape or form.

It is sleight of hand by the Minister to turn on the Opposition and claim that if we were in power we would not be in favour of taxation. We are for taxation. It should be noted it is the other side of the House which is not bringing in progressive taxation. Rather it is ensuring there will not be more tax on income only stealth taxes. The Government is telling the wealthy in this country it will let them off the hook for the next few years and will not go after them. In the meantime it will bring in stealth taxes of several thousand euro that will hit people, most of all lone parents. It is couch money for the very wealthy in this country and again they are not being hit with income tax. It is outrageous for the Minister to try to pose the issue in that way.

I will leave it at that. I only wanted to make those few points about the assertion that we supported this model. I hope the Minister will take this on board as she returns. She probably did not hear the points I made, which is unfortunate. I realise she probably had to leave the Chamber. It was important to make those points.

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