Is it possible that there could be a social welfare (amendment) Bill before the House breaks up? The Tánaiste will be delighted to learn that Deputies Nulty, Halligan, Pringle and I, along with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, Focus Ireland, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, INOU, Age Action and One Parent Exchange Network, OPEN, formally launched a campaign for the restoration of the social welfare Christmas bonus. On the long night of the promissory notes the Tánaiste said there would be a social or solidarity dividend for people. With recent Exchequer returns and our earlier discussions, we have the opportunity to restore the Christmas bonus for hard-pressed families, which was removed by the previous Government. At the weekend the Tánaiste spoke of bills coming into houses like confetti, some of which the Tánaiste has, unfortunately, imposed on people himself. Is there not an opportunity to come forward with a social protection (amendment) Bill or to amend the Finance (No. 2) Bill which we are discussing today and restore a social solidarity payment to the most vulnerable citizens this Christmas time?

I am glad the Deputy acknowledges that we are at last reaching a position where we might consider a social dividend after all people have been through. We have no social welfare Bill scheduled for the remainder of this year.