The Government made a commitment in the programme for Government that during the course of its lifetime it would substantially reduce poverty rates. In view of the facts that one in five children under the age of 17 years and one in six adults lives below the poverty line, and that 130,000 children have fallen below the poverty line in the last four years according to the recent UNICEF report, does the Taoiseach think the Government's objective will be realised by the end of its term?

That is not on the Order of Business. I thought the Deputy was looking for a debate.

It is part of the programme for Government.

The Deputy was stating an opinion. One does not have opinions on the Order of Business.

Is the Ceann Comhairle telling me I cannot ask a question?

The Deputy can ask a question about a report and when it is going to be taken.

I am asking a question about Government policy.

One cannot express an opinion on policy. The Deputy knows that as well as I do. He has been around for a long time.

I am asking about a commitment in the programme for Government.

What is the commitment?

Can I not ask about that?

Of course you can.

That is what I have asked, and I would like an answer.

That is a different issue. What about the commitment in the programme for Government?

As the Deputy knows, the way out of poverty in the programme for Government is by creating jobs.

For the boys.

He will be glad to know that the unemployment rate has dropped to 10.7%, a decrease of 2%. Approximately 80,000 jobs have been created in the last period.

That is a different issue. I asked about child poverty not unemployment.

I agree with the Deputy that the challenge is to spread the benefits from a rising economy and rising confidence in consumer sentiment throughout the country. That is why USC was reduced at the lower level and 83,000 were taken out of the requirement to pay income tax. The efforts of Government will be aimed at spreading that to the most vulnerable, including the children and families the Deputy mentioned.