Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I also welcome the Minister and wish her well in her ongoing work. I congratulate her on her appointment. I read her regular dispatches across a wide range of local newspapers and hope her weekly exercises in publicity will be matched by resources for those who depend on her Department on a weekly basis.

Given our system of politics, most Members of the Oireachtas meet their constituents on a regular basis, especially those with difficulties and queries. This gives us an in-depth knowledge of how the social welfare system is working. Every politician is, to some degree, an expert on the rules of the system and we can all make arguments to the Minister on changes and improvements. My colleague, Senator Brian Hayes, and others have addressed the issue of the social welfare increases and the rate of inflation, on which I will not elaborate.