Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

The EU yesterday published a report on poverty which showed the living standards and incomes of people in Ireland. It noted that 23% of the population of Ireland are at risk of poverty and that 9% are consistently poor. Among the latter are listed single parents and their families as well as children, and the frightening statistic revealed is that health, food, clothing and heating were the four items in particular of which those categories of people in poverty were short. These are the items we have listed during the past year as having increased alarmingly in price as part of the rip-off culture we have endured in Ireland for some time.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to attend the House and assess the national anti-poverty strategy in place since 1997 to see how effective or otherwise it has been? If such a high percentage of people are at risk of poverty it is surely time that this supposedly caring and sharing Government shared the wealth we now have in this country with those who can least afford the necessities. It is important that we look after the children in poverty in particular and acknowledge the consequences of such poverty over their lifetimes in the areas of health, education and future prospects. I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on the issue.