Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The transition is critical. I have met groups such as SPARK and One Family which support in principle the idea behind a progressive change to lone-parent allowance and the idea that the State should not intrude into the relationship between parents or base payments for children on the status of their parents' relationships but on whether a child is at risk of poverty and needs the money. The critical points the groups made and which I support concerned access to preschool and after school child care services. They also made the important point that there was a need to ensure adequate transitional supports would be provided. Other Senators have pointed out that 47% of single parents are working and that lone-parent allowance lets them to continue doing so. It is critical in the transition to jobseeker's allowance single parents who are working and in receipt of lone-parent allowance retain that right.

There has been a general welcome for the additional measures included in the Bill to tackle fraud and abuse. There is also a welcome for some of the changes to pension schemes such as introducing a buffer for defined benefit schemes and to ensure greater sustainability of pension schemes. The sustainability of pension schemes is one of the ticking time bombs of which we are all conscious. I am very encouraged by the changes to ensure the economy is made more attractive for investment by pension funds. We would all want to see this happen. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his attention.