Vol. 407 No. 6
10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the action he proposes to take on the conclusion of the European Council in Rome in December to the effect that the European Council emphasised the importance of the family as an essential aspect of solidarity and social cohesion; if he will outline the way he expects this conclusion to be translated into practical policies at Community and member state level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The conclusion to which the Deputy refers is in line with our position under the Constitution and with guiding principles of policy accepted by successive Governments in Ireland. The Government will continue to have the fullest regard, in all relevant aspects of domestic, Community and international policy, to the importance of the family.
Does the Taoiseach agree that social policies here make it extremely unattractive for people with any number of children to work, if the only work for which they are qualified is manual work, because of the operation of the means test? Does the Taoiseach agree that there is an impractical anti family measure in social policy here and that it deserves to be changed? I acknowledge that this is something that has existed for some time and that to some degree it pre-dates the Government. Would the Taoiseach agree that this area of family policy, the disincentive to work, is something that needs to be tackled?
This is straying a long way from the European Community. I take issue with the Deputy on a number of aspects of the matter. In the last few budgets the Government moved positively in favour of the family.
The Government worsened the situation.
The family income supplement is now being steadily improved and it will be improved further under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. There are valuable tax concessions now whereby families, and large families in particular, can be helped considerably through the tax code. I do not accept the Deputy's argument in that regard, at all.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that there is anti family policy if, as happens here at the moment, somebody on £3,000 per annum with four children improves his income to £10,000 a year, by taking a job, he is actually worse off as a result? Would the Taoiseach also agree that that disincentive to families to work, which has been acknowledged by members of the Government, is anti family and ought to be changed?
What is commonly known as the poverty trap, to which the Deputy refers, is being and has been tackled firmly by the Government.
No, sir.
Is the Taoiseach aware that in each of the last four budgets since he became Taoiseach again the poverty trap has worsened? Would the Taoiseach not agree that some of his Ministers have acknowledged that fact, particularly the Minister for Labour?
We are having repetition.
I maintain, without fear of contradiction, that positive measures have been taken, in the last two budgets in particular, both with regard to the FIS and the marginal tax concessions for the lower paid, which have positively improved the situation.
Hear, hear.
Let us deal with another question.
A Cheann Comhairle, I wish to put a supplementary.
I hesitate to debar the Deputy. Deputy Mary Flaherty.
Is the Taoiseach aware that a recent survey of child support mechanisms in Europe showed that child support here is 30 per cent lower than in any other European country?
They do not have the children.
We do; and are we to consign them to poverty? Is that the policy?
The Deputy seems to be imparting information rather than seeking it.
Are we to export them?
It is very easy for those on the other side of the House to be critical in these areas but the Government over the last few years have steadily improved the position of families with children and we will do more under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The Government have worsened the situation.
We recognise that it is in large families on low pay or on social welfare that poverty arises. I insist that in the last number of budgets we have moved positively to improve the position of families on lower incomes. We started this process. The Fine Gael Party, when in Government, did nothing about it.
Wrong.
I respectfully contend that the Taoiseach simply does not understand this problem.
I hope he does not support the views expressed by the Minister beside him.
The children do not exist in Europe.
