Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

The Department's budget for 2004 is €11.26 billion, which is a significant amount, and it will be directed at children, pensioners and people who for whatever reasons cannot gain employment.

I refer to the widow's pension. The Government and its predecessor have been the only ones to take on the concept of social inclusion. A Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion is in place, which is chaired by the Taoiseach. It meets regularly and is attended by the Tánaiste. Nobody has done more for pensioners in the past seven years.