Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will, of course. I was merely referring to the Minister's comments last night as an example of the sort of other measures that are covered by the Bill and the fact, to come back to the issue of the Title, that it could well be referred to as the social welfare law reform Bill, given there is the earlier Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006. There have been some instances where more specific issues were placed in the Title, although, as Senator Healy Eames said in regard to the last two years in particular, we have simply seen "Social Welfare Bill" as the Title, even when a range of other issues are addressed.

It is a good idea that we would debate what is in the Title and it is important we would scrutinise every part of any Bill. I compliment Senator Cullinane on raising the issue of the Title, although "Social Welfare Bill" is understood as a generic, catch-all Title that in fact covers a range of other issues, including the important reforms the Minister is introducing and some of the measures she referred to in her speech last night, such as the audit of provision of respite care places and her commitment to having a debate in this House in the new year on the issue of reforms to child benefit. A number of reforming measures are captured in the Bill also, but I believe they are captured by the general Title of "Social Welfare Bill".