Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of poverty was raised by the groups from both churches. We discussed the impact of the economic crisis on jobs and families, etc. Deputy Boyd Barrett always puts out the worst case possible. One would swear an oath after listening to the Deputy that every person in the country is starving. I commend all the groups, agencies and organisations that do so much work for people who are suffering hardship where there is a degree of poverty and hunger. That should not apply in a country like this. It is a case of working with the agencies of Government, the voluntary organisations and the families to make sure their children are fed in the best way possible. In a country like Ireland in 2013, it should not be the case that a child should have to go to bed hungry, but unfortunately that happens in a number of cases. I think the programmes that are done through schools and in communities, such as breakfast clubs, have such a strong effect because these things are taken in hand by communities and parents - by women, in particular - with the support of many agencies and organisations. Communities have banded together far more effectively and far more closely to deal with the extent of what has happened in the recession than they did when people assumed everybody was well off, that everybody was a millionaire and that everybody had money for everything even though that was clearly not the case. As the Deputy and I are aware, there are serious difficulties in many homes in this country. Where that applies, this is always a difficulty. It may be a case of an addiction, of squandering money or of not having any money. Nobody wants to see that. When these things are identified by the many voluntary organisations, they make a sterling effort to see they are dealt with. I do not believe anybody in our country should be hungry in 2013, given the extent of what we produce. We produce enough food to feed 35 million people. This is a case of understanding who needs it and in what circumstances and how effectively that can be delivered on. It is a very strong social requirement and responsibility of the Government and its agencies to ensure these problem areas are dealt with and, where possible, to change the whole nature of motivation and interest so that people can get into the world of work, better themselves and, as a consequence, provide in a better way for their children.

See this speech in context