Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. I again commend the Leader for extending time yesterday on the Second Stage debate on the Social Welfare Bill. I thought it was a really good, comprehensive debate. I want, in particular, to welcome the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Burton, in her response on Second Stage and I call on the Leader to follow up on the Minister's commitment to publish the report on child benefit of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare. Following from that, I ask the Leader for a debate on that report in the Seanad at the earliest opportunity. Indeed, the Minister yesterday said she looked forward to engaging with Senators on the various options for reform of child benefit that will be put forward in that report. There are hard choices to be made in terms of taxation, means testing and the preservation of a basic rate on the principle of universality. It would be worthwhile to have a debate on that in this House, which the Minister indicated she would welcome.

I would also like to welcome very much her agreement with the proposal from the Labour Party Senators, referring to something I had said last week but which was put forward by Senator Marie Moloney, that she would welcome an audit or survey of the provision of respite care places across the country. Many of us are aware that for many carers the issue is lack of availability of respite care places, and that an interdepartmental survey would be necessary in conjunction with the HSE, as well as the Department of Social Protection, to see where there are gaps in provision-----