Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I want to say well done to her for getting her message across in a very tight timeframe. The other day I was in Leinster Marts in Kilcullen. They are looking for an auctioneer and I thought the Minister would fit the bill quite well. I say again well done. The Minister had a lot to contend with.

I will start with the very positive points and the last point the Minister raised. This morning our Cabinet approved the extension of the child benefit payment from 1 May to 18-year-olds and those who are in full-time education or have a disability. I think this is really exceptional and positive. It is great that the Minister could bring this forward. In a press release this afternoon, there was some suggestion that IT systems had allowed that to be brought forward earlier because it was processed quickly. However, let us forget about that; the Minister is committed to it. She has done an exceptional job in the Department of Social Protection.

The benefits, as we have all said and the Minister has set out, will go to some 60,000 people. Some 6,000 families with children aged 18 years and older will benefit. We know that the child benefit currently being paid is €140 per child, per month. Education is a challenge, as is the cost of living. Bringing up children or teenagers or young people is a challenge. I know the Minister is committed to supporting everyone to develop to their full potential and capabilities. That is about supporting people and giving them the opportunities and the necessary supports. I want to thank the Minister for this.

I note that the Minister has gone into great detail about the three Parts of the Bill. She set out that very well. I do not particularly have a problem with the generality of this Bill. She might just touch on the establishment of the child maintenance agency, which was one of the recommendations. I am not sure if the Government is accepting that recommendation. The Government has taken on board the recommendations of the child maintenance review group. The Minister has set them out, and that is particularly good.

I want to turn to one particular issue of concern. This is the issue of the beneficiaries of the temporary protection. To bring us in line with other jurisdictions, the proposal is that the beneficiaries would receive €38.80 per week. This is about protection. I unashamedly believe in and support the Government in every effort it makes on the céad míle fáilte, one hundred thousand welcomes. We need to stand in solidarity with one another and we need to support people who come to our shores seeking protection. They are not chancers or scammers or a whole load of other things which I will not repeat in this room that so many people wish to say. I have had family members for generations who went to Manchester, Birmingham, New York and Boston with not a bean in their pockets. They were faced with "No blacks, no dogs, no Irish". Hopefully we are going to receive people into our country in an open-hearted and open-spirited way. Quite frankly, €38.80 per week is just over €5 per day for vulnerable people. I am not comfortable with that. I simply cannot stand here and say that it is equitable, fair, just, kind, humanitarian, Christian, good or positive. It simply is not. I know we have difficulties with resources so I will park it on this point. I am not comfortable with it. I do not think it is good enough. It does not fulfil our ambition, courage, solidarity or humanity for people in need. I believe it needs to be changed. Let us be an example to other countries in Europe. Let us do better than everyone else. We should not bring ourselves down to be with other people, but show our solidarity, love and respect and be human. To give people just over €5 per day is not acceptable. We would not give it to our grandchildren as a treat. I am uncomfortable with giving this amount. I know the Minister has to work within the restraints and the resources and Government policy. I finish on this point. Leo Varadkar has a track record of talking about offering the hand of friendship and help and being caring. We need to be courageous and revisit this. We need to be brave enough to stand in solidarity with one another and advocate for a better deal than this for people who are coming to our shores for safety and for protection.