Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I lost an hour and a half yesterday morning that could have been used to discuss the Bill because of the carry-on that had nothing to do with social welfare. This morning I lost another hour and a half. Deputies have raised very important points. It is part of parliamentary practice that there not be a one-sided discussion and that if a Deputy raises a point, the Minister is obliged to consider and reply to it. If the Deputy would prefer me to sit down and say nothing, he should realise it is not the way I operate.

I want to see a significant improvement to the package of services the country provides for carers-----

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