Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I am not in a position to accept the amendment. The Senator will appreciate that as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, in the main, I have a difficult job that is even more difficult at the moment regarding prioritising where our very small resources might be directed. I also have the job of prioritising the resources of a relatively small team to do policy work within the Department. A total of 6,500 people work for the Department but they are all facing the citizens of Ireland, who we are here to serve. The two requests from the Senator contained in this amendment have massive budgetary implications. I do not agree with this. The Senator and I have had this conversation before. The Senator and I have differing views. Even if I wanted to, I do not have the millions that both or either of these proposals would cost this year so on that basis, I do not propose to use up very finite resources within my Department doing a report to lay before the Houses regarding something I have neither the intention nor the money of pursuing, for as long as I am Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.