Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

People on low incomes need child benefit to support their children; that is why we have protected them. In an effort to avoid creating a poverty trap, we ensured an increase was also given to people in receipt of family income supplement, protecting those on low incomes who are working. The cut was kept to a minimum.

Parents of any nine year old to an 18 or 22 year old, depending on their education, currently receividng child benefit remember what it was like when their child was born. In 2000 the rate of child benefit was £53.96. It is now €166 and being reduced to €150. They are still getting almost €100 more per month than when their child was born. Equally, it was £71.11 for the third and subsequent children in 2000, which figure is now €203. The very same parents are the first to acknowledge the cut but also acknowledge the increases in recent years.

Huge investment has also been made in the provision of child care and community places to support those on lower incomes and in the provision of a pre-school year, a genuine contribution to both parents and children. This can ensure better outcomes for all children and will take effect from January.

I would never question the bona fides of those Senators making this argument. We all realise the pressure families are under. I will not tolerate, however, any Senator questioning my bona fides or those of other Ministers.