I am sorry that there is squabling over this issue, because it is important in principle. Is the Minister aware that this type of payment would have stood as giving women a legal right in terms of contributing to the home in cases of marital breakdowns? In those instances, it would have been very important and for that reason would the Government consider some such scheme in the future? At the moment, women at home without any income are not regarded as contributing to the home.

(Clare): The Deputy has mentioned women who are the victims of broken marriages. Surely legal arrangements can be made with regard to maintenance in that instance? Where social welfare benefits are concerned, payment can be apportioned to the wife, which is another instance. The question of considering something on the lines of the proposal of the previous Government has not arisen as far as I am aware.