Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 18, to delete lines 23 to 38, to delete pages 19 and 20, and in page 21, to delete lines 1 to 17.

I know there has been a change to this section, but I want to make some general points on the one family tax credit and the way in which it facilitated the collaborative approach of parents who had separated but had shared responsibility for their children. When this measure appeared in the budget, it was seen as a retrograde step. We saw the number of emails from separated fathers and organisations such as One Family. It was very distressing and disturbing for those fathers who took responsibility for their children while not living in the same house. There is an issue about how parents are designated. We have to get away from the designation of primary carer and look more completely at shared responsibility.

The one family tax credit was abused by some people who availed of it without contributing, but it is disappointing that all separated fathers were tarred with the one brush. This measure caused them a lot of distress when it appeared in the budget. I am not too sure that the Government's amended section goes far enough because it provides that the second parent will receive the tax credit if the couple is not co-operating, but there must be a period of 100 days involved. This does not sound like shared responsibility.

Some of the suggestions by those people working with separated fathers could have been taken into account.

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