Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I welcome the Deputy's comments and his acceptance that in the past things were done differently and in a way that none of us would agree with today. However, we are dealing with the present. I have no wish to introduce a new system of means assessment that is unfair. That is not my intention. It will therefore receive rigorous analysis and scrutiny before we proceed. I recognise the Deputy's agricultural expertise and accept the global impact weather conditions can have, as well as the fact we are dealing with a worldwide commodity market, even for something as fragile as milk in respect of time and distance travelled.

I do not know what will be the outcome of this report. It is my inclination and intention to publish it as soon as possible after I receive it and then to have a debate on it and listen to people's opinions. However, in the general areas in which means testing is being undertaken, such as for social welfare purposes and probably for Department of Health purposes with regard to nursing home care and so on, it would be commonsensical and preferable to have a single means testing system. This is my personal view but it is shared informally by colleagues in the Cabinet. It would be preferable to have in place a single system in respect of student grants, social welfare for the unemployed who previously were self-employed, sectors of health and so on. Consequently, we should get this right and should consider and then discuss whatever recommendations are made.

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