Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

In terms of the child benefit payment, I think the comments of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar were very correct and telling. It is completely inappropriate that the child benefit payment is not in any way a means tested payment. Even at this late stage, I call on the Government to look at the possibility of self declaration. It is wholly unacceptable that people on an income of €100,000 or a €1 million should benefit from this payment. That is not what the scheme is designed to do. I think self declaration to be followed by a proper means test is the appropriate approach for the future.