Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Senator Byrne has touched on a point. Whatever way it is to be dressed up, the changes being introduced are cuts through the back door to child benefit payments. There is no question about that. These cuts will have major impacts on very many families, particularly those with three or more children. In our pre-election submission to the Department of Finance, Fianna Fáil proposed no cuts to child benefit payments and that those savings should be obtained from elsewhere. A number of my colleagues have shown where those savings or the additional money could be ring fenced from the wealthier in our society.

From next year, families will be hit with massive reductions in their income, be it from social welfare or the increased charges coming down the tracks, such as the household charge and the septic tank charges. These will have implications on many families.

We need clarification on the elimination of payments on multiple births. It is my understanding that proposals from the Department contained in the legislation suggest that payments on multiple births are to be eliminated. Perhaps the Minister could clarify this, because approximately 1,200 families will be affected annually by this if that payment is terminated. The children's charity Barnardos warned prior to the budget that any cut in child benefit payments would affect many children. They estimate that approximately 90,000 children in the State are currently living in poverty. They warned against any cut in child benefit payments. The National Women's Council of Ireland stated that the payment had become an easy target for successive Governments, and that any reduction would lead to further hardship for families.

Senator van Turnhout said it much better than I could in respect of the European situation. The child benefit schemes here are in place to support families to have children. Senator van Turnhout is right. Ireland currently has the highest fertility rate in the EU and enjoys a youthful demographic profile, unlike ageing societies like Germany or Italy. The birth rate here is 17 per 1,000 population. That is up from 14.4 per 1,000 in 2000. It is the highest birth rate of all 27 member states and the social welfare payments have played a part in supporting the family and protecting children, and in supporting women who are doing such a fine job raising families.

I would like to provide the Minister with three quotes from the Labour Party prior to the election.