Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section:

"2—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the removal of the Habitual Residence Condition from the Child Benefit payment.".

This amendment aims to assist 3,000 people whose incomes are so small that their children are being deprived of the most basic and fundamental necessities, such as food, clothing, schoolbooks and over-the-counter medicines and Christmas toys, and who do not qualify for child benefit under the habitual residence condition. It is grossly unfair that existing Government policy excludes the children of those in receipt of direct provision from the advantages of the child benefit system. It directly contradicts the Government's policy on the reduction of child poverty and is in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by Ireland in 1992. Countries which sign up to the convention promise to protect the rights of all children within their jurisdictions without discrimination of any kind, including any prejudice based on their parents' status. Therefore, the Government's approach is somewhat contradictory. Article 26 of the UN convention states that every child has a right to benefit from social security. Children whose parents do not qualify for child benefit under the habitual residence condition are expected to survive on €9.60 per week, which would hardly buy a bar of chocolate. As I said yesterday, the chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council has argued that the Government's policy in this area is having a dehumanising effect — it is pushing people further into poverty and isolation and causing stress and heartache. Given that the number of people affected is quite small, the Minister of State should be able to examine this matter, open her heart and take appropriate action.