Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure there is a huge amount I can add to what the Minister indicated in his response. As I made clear, the social security rights of people living and working in the European Union are governed by EU regulations. The Deputy has raised a number of issues in his contribution, but the principal issue is the one on which he touched towards the end, namely, that depriving parents and families of child benefit or the new payment that may replace child benefit would be a good instrument to ensure school attendance. I note the suggestion the Deputy has made, but I am not sure it is one that would receive universal approval. It is worthy of debate, but his proposal would not be without controversy. I will stick to the response the Minister has given on the substantive issue raised by the Deputy.

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