Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

The point I am making is that those provisions are in place in those countries, or are being put in place. They are not being put in place here. There have been cutbacks in investment in education and an increase in the number of unemployed in recent years. Unless the Minister comes into the House with a plan to address that, I must reject these amendments because they are not backed up by what she and the Tánaiste said will happen.

It is correct to encourage people to get back into education and into the workforce but only if it is not to the detriment of their children. The Minister said the children are important. If they are so important, she should come back to the House in one months' time, six months' time or in a year's time, having withdrawn these amendments, with a plan so we can say we are moving in the right direction. It is no good giving a verbal commitment in the House. A financial commitment is required. If the Minister goes to the troika to say we will invest an additional €1 billion over the next two or three years or whatever in after school services, education and access to third level education for people in receipt of one parent family payment and in jobs which they can access, then I will look at this in a different light.

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