Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach should put aside those written notes that someone gives to him to read out in answer to Leaders' Questions. He should go out and meet the people who are affected. The Taoiseach is out of touch and completely detached from the reality on the ground. The policy is not working. In 2012, 60% of lone parents on the one-parent family payment were actually at work outside the home. In 2014, the figure is 36%. It is counterintuitive, as those who are actually at work are losing the most out of this. They are being absolutely hammered as a result of this measure.

I put it to the Taoiseach that, not so long ago, the Tánaiste, Deputy Burton, said:

I will only proceed with the measures to reduce the upper age limit to seven years in the event that I get a credible and bankable commitment on the delivery of such a system of child care enjoyed by the Scandinavians by the time of this year's budget. If this is not forthcoming, the measure will not proceed.

Recently in the Dáil, when Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste about this commitment she made, she replied, "[T]he delivery and expansion of child care services is the responsibility of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs." I know I cannot use the word "lie", but I will use the phrase "broken promise". Was that not a basic untruth? Would the Taoiseach accept that the Tánaiste has reneged on a cast-iron commitment that she gave to the Dáil, the public and the various lone parent family organisations that she would not introduce the measure she is introducing in a couple of weeks unless there was a Scandinavian-type child care model? We know we do not have that. Is that not a broken promise? Does the Taoiseach accept that the Tánaiste has reneged on her commitment and that the policy is clearly not working?

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