Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I second the amendment proposed by my colleague, Senator Cox. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, and pay tribute to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Estimates for 2004. I am proud to support the Government amendment to the motion. It is not my intention to bore Senators with figures or statistics but I want to put one important fact on the record. In 1997, when the people booted the motley crew of the rainbow coalition out of office, the total social welfare budget was €5.7 billion. This year the total budget for the Department of Social and Family Affairs is over €10.6 billion, which does not include the social welfare increases which will be announced in the budget in early December.

I have to laugh when I read the Private Members' motion submitted by the Labour Party condemning the Government for assaulting the living standards of the most disadvantaged in society.