I urgently call on the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to account for her tenure and her presiding over the cuts to maternity benefit paid to Irish women. As I have said numerous times, we have a very unbalanced four-man committee running the country. I would like to ask the Minister to account for herself. One week before the budget the expert group on the future of child care strategy recommended that maternity benefit should be extended from six to 12 months. The Minister said she would do all in her power to get this implemented. However, she has presided over cuts to maternity benefits to Irish women. Did Irish women cause this economic crisis?

No, Fianna Fáil did.

It is under the radar how the women have been cut. I do not know how the Senator can laugh; I am speaking in the House today for the pregnant women of Ireland and the future pregnant women of Ireland, whose maternity benefit is being cut by €32 per week for 90% of those who receive it. This means that the Government has reduced the collective maternity benefit payment by €830 over the six-month period of maternity leave. How can Senators support that? How can my colleagues on the Government side support this?

The Senator should look at the circumstances behind it.

Senator Mary White to continue, without interruption.

Irish women through the 1980s and 1990s came back to work to support the economy socially and economically and to help the economic development of the country when we were short of workers.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

However, the Government is penalising Irish women who are pregnant, who mind children and who come back to work after they have children.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

I would like to ask it, a Chathaoirleach, if you will allow me. Irish men work. Irish women bear children, come back to work and look after children. They have a much more demanding role than the men of this country. That is why I am on my feet to defend Irish women.