Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Dea knows that we normally get two social welfare Bills per year. This period is also used as an opportunity to tidy up legislation. The Deputy knows that from being in Government over many decades. I will be very clear. Our legal advice is that there is no shift in presumption. I refute the suggestion that these changes are being made to make it more difficult for a person to qualify for carer's allowance. Deputy O'Dea is aware that the statistics, analysis and facts show that more people have been on carer's allowance during the lifetime of this Government than at any other time.

I am not surprised that Deputy Boyd Barrett does not believe the Government. I have never heard him say that he believes the Government or any individual on this side of the House. I hope he will accept the facts as I have set them out.

On Deputy Joan Collins' point regarding the transfer of services to the Intreo offices at Bishop's Square, the Intreo offices act as a one-stop-shop. As result of this move service provision is now much more efficient, in particular for the customer. I have gone out of my way to talk to people across the country who have interacted with the new Intreo offices. They have nothing but good to say about them. People welcome that they now need to interact with only one office on a range of social protection issues, including re-entry into the workforce.

I am unable to accept the amendments.

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