Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is part of the vision to which we referred last year in the context of supporting communities that are in difficulty and that are suffering the worst effects of the deepest recession the western world has known probably since the devastation of the Second World War.

I wish, in all sincerity, to inform those Deputies on all sides who made interesting and valuable contributions that as I discuss these matters with mothers and fathers - some of them are in employment while others unfortunately are not - they inform me about their priorities and they ask me, as Minister, to help get their fine young adult sons and daughters out of their homes and back into education, training and work. The Labour Party is all about work. Welfare is a substitute, a springboard and a method of assistance. However, as was the case with Connolly and Larkin, it is work which the Labour Party wants for those who are currently locked out of employment.

I listened to the sincere complaints on the part of a number of Deputies to the effect that there was not more time available to devote to the debate on the Bill. I regret that this morning some 90 minutes that were allocated in respect of the Bill were basically lost-----

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