Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann, recognising

–the advances carried out by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Department over the past five years,

–the improvements in social welfare payments, and

–the improvements in services and information from her Department to its clients,

in the light of the upcoming budget Estimates and the talks on social partnership calls on the Minister to maintain a strong role in the progressing of services and facilities for the disadvantaged and in social inclusion.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Minister to the House. If we look at the significant changes which have taken place in this area in recent years, we can see the reason the motion, which I hope the House will support, is important. It is necessary to maintain this strong role and continue to progress the services and facilities for the disadvantaged and to include those who were on the margins but are now becoming involved and included in society. I intend to focus on a number of the key initiatives and major improvements that have taken place in the area of social and family affairs.