Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

We must recognise how Government works. It is up to the Minister for Education and Science of the day to fight his or her case with the Minister for Finance to get his or her annual allocation for the Department. That is how Government works for all Departments.

This issue is strengthened by the fact that there is a legal imperative on the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Education and Science to carry out their duties. A person can make a subjective judgment about whether the money is sufficient and that individual can decide at election time if he or she agrees with the priorities of Government. This legislation, however, places a legal imperative on the Ministers to carry out their duties and copper fastens the position of the child.