Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

International rankings are often used inside and outside this House to suggest that we are near the bottom of the heap on social policy. It is satisfying, therefore, that a United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, report on child welfare ranks Ireland ninth out of 21 countries surveyed. This is especially satisfying as it is all over today's British newspapers that they came bottom of the list across the water after ten years of New Labour government. I ask the Leader to convey a commendation to the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and to all of those who work in child agencies on a very creditable result. I recognise, of course, that much work still needs to be done on child poverty and other matters relating to children.

We must be critical of some of the suggestions made by international agencies and I dismiss out of hand the suggestion that the recognition in the tax system of the work done by women in their homes be eliminated.