Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 4, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

3.–The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on expenditure on social protection in the State relative to that of other EU member states and particularising the precise statistical impact of the lower number of elderly and unemployed people in the State on the State's relative position as the member state with the lowest such expenditure.".

I ask the Minister to state how she intends to address the fact that expenditure on social protection is lower than that in any other EU country.