Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I thank the Leader for setting aside time tomorrow in order that we all can express condolences to the Lenihan family on the untimely passing of former Minister, Brian Lenihan. That is opportune and I will reserve my comments until then.

I understand we will have the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill in the House in the next week or so. I have been offered the great task by our leader to be the Front Bench spokesperson in the Seanad on social protection. For my part, I believe we have a challenge to face in this country in that the social protection budget is running at more than €20 billion. The debate on the Bill will afford us all an opportunity to look at how to create a socially just society at this time in our history when we face such considerable economic challenges, how to ensure work is more valuable than welfare, and how to guard against welfare dependance and a welfare lifestyle while at the same time ensuring the vulnerable are protected at all times. I encourage every Member in the House to use the opportunity of the debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill to put our ideas forward together. It is a massive challenge, how we will bring our country back to work and back to education. That should be our form of social protection as opposed to a pure dependency on welfare. I look forward to hearing the Members views in the House.