Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann," and substitute the following:

"noting as a consequence of the Estimates for 2004, that spending on social welfare is projected to increase to €10.65 billion in 2004, notes that these Estimates do not as of yet include any budgetary provision for increases in social welfare payment rates in 2004 and welcomes the continuing commitment of the Government to address the needs of disadvantaged groups in our society."

This evening I had hoped we might have had a debate that focused on the issues rather than the diatribe to which we have become used from the Labour Party and the Opposition benches in general.