Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The point I am making is that spending on maternity payments rose from €132 million at the beginning of the boom to €303 million in 2012. This was achieved in the teeth of the most difficult economic situation this country has ever faced, brought about by the collapse of the banks. Senator Byrne's party was very much closely involved in that terribly unfortunate collapse. I know he and his fellow party members did not want it to happen, but it did happen and it happened on their watch.

I had difficult choices to make in this budget. Any reduction in any element of social welfare provision is a difficult choice to make. This particular measure will give a modest saving of €30 million. Bear in mind, however, that somebody who has a baby, by either adoption or birth, will receive a child benefit payment of €130 per month, which I am happy to say is among the highest in Europe. In addition, in this budget we are finally providing for the roll-out next year and the following year of free GP care to families with children aged under five. In other words, there are benefits in this budget for families with children.

The suggestion that any party in the Oireachtas does not have great concern for families with children is a false charge. In light of the loss of 250,000 jobs in this country, we have done very well to maintain the social security system which all parties value. The two parties of government have sought to preserve that system in accordance with the advice I received from the various organisations, all of which asked me to prioritise child benefit this year. I did so and, in addition, the Government also extended medical care arrangements and doctor cards for children under five years of age. There are advances in this budget as well as difficulties.

As I said, I remember Senator Byrne's contributions in the Dáil-----