The ESRI report the Tánaiste quotes did not refer to social welfare cuts at all.

Yes it did.

It was not a study of them and did not actually conclude that there was no impact on women. In fact, it concluded that there was an impact on women who were in a relationship. The study to which I would like to refer the Tánaiste - and I am sure she is not contradicting it as it is well known - is by the National Women's Council. It concluded that equality had been cast aside during the crisis; lone parents, the low paid and the poor were special targets for raising cash to recapitalise the banks; mother-headed households were more likely to be in debt for gas, electricity and rent; and women were more likely to be paying for the crisis. I will not go into it, the Tánaiste knows it well.

I would like the Tánaiste to go back to the two specific issues I raised, of lone parents and the 8th amendment, which she studiously did not mention at all. Regarding lone parents, this is the second promise to women the Tánaiste has broken. On posters before the election, she promised that she would not cut child benefit. She cut it - she took €10 and gave back €5. She promised last July that she would not proceed with these cuts to lone parents unless Scandinavian style child care was in place. There is no Scandinavian style child care. I am sure a lot of women would like to go out to work, be it part-time or full-time, but for lone parents it is even more difficult. The Tánaiste is turning seven year olds into latchkey kids. How are parents meant to be able to find somewhere from 1.30 p.m., when seven year olds get off school, until 6 o'clock? They would want to be earning a whopping income like the Tánaiste's to do that.

Whip hand.

Hear, hear.

I am on a worker's wage and the Deputy is not. Regarding the eight amendment, can the Tánaiste please respond to me? In the past, people would have expected that the Labour Party, at least on social issues if nothing else, would garner something from a coalition of popular government.

Speech

Why will the Tánaiste not hold a referendum this year and not at some stage in the future? We all know the Labour Party will not be in the next Government so it is a useless promise. Do it now and give women the rights they deserve.

The only way to remove the eighth amendment is to vote on it. That is the only way.

Deputy Coppinger will not be in the next Government anyway, that is for sure.

The Labour Party used to say it would not be in a right-wing Government either.

Deputy Higgins does not believe in government.

Deputy Higgins should pay his bin tax.

Order please, I have called the Tánaiste.

The Labour Party conference this weekend was very successful and worthwhile. It is a pity Deputy Coppinger was not there but maybe she was outside. In terms of our platform for the next election, the delegates agreed that we would be seeking to repeal the eighth amendment to the Constitution.

Why does the Tánaiste not do it now?

I can only go on the legal advice that we get, which is that constitutional change is required to deal with the very distressing issue of fatal foetal abnormality. When we go to the people we will ask them to endorse a proposal that the Labour Party seek a referendum on the eighth amendment.

Do it now.

Deputy Coppinger asked me earlier where I would be on International Women's Day. I will be in Maynooth university with organisations like Trócaire, celebrating the achievements of women in developing countries in building economic independence and small, medium and large businesses for themselves and their families.

Deputy Coppinger can protest that. She should take the iPhone out of her boot now.

Deputy Coppinger's colleagues might be interested to know that I also hope to celebrate with An Cosán, a marvellous organisation based in Tallaght providing education for the community. Last year when I met Madame Lagarde, the head of the IMF - Deputy Coppinger may object to this - I brought women with me who are involved in business in areas like carers, associations, education----

The Tánaiste cut their grant

She cut the carer's allowance and the respite grant.

---and some of the leading women doctors working in this country. Going back to my comment about the women who are my heroes, the person who probably spoke best was the woman who, along with several others, had spent their lives working as carers, caring for individuals from their families and communities---

The Tánaiste is after cutting grants to carers.

Christine Lagarde spent a lot of time with women telling their stories of what it is like to be a woman in modern Ireland. It is important that women share their stories so I hope this International Women's Day that women in Ireland will get the same opportunities. Certainly at the events I am going to I hope to be able to celebrate with women who are successful and committed to this country, their children and families.