Gaza conflict and social protection
Senator Mullins seeks an urgent debate on Gaza and EU efforts toward peace, while also requesting a future debate on the scale of social-protection spending.
I support the call made yesterday that we invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House to discuss the worsening situation in the Middle East. The appalling loss of life over the past number of days is a cause of concern to all of us. It is now incumbent on EU Foreign Ministers, in their collective wisdom, to put their heads together and attempt to broker peace talks. One does not want to apportion blame to either side but there is significant blame on both sides of this intractable dispute in Gaza. This matter needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the EU, as a very powerful body.
I will not deal with the Garth Brooks situation but we all hope-----
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Is Senator Mullins not welcoming it?
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I very much applaud the very constructive and innovative offer brokered by our colleague, Senator Michael D'Arcy, where hotels in the south east have offered an inducement of five days in the sunny south east to those local residents who are against the concerts. It just might be the initiative to help to broker peace talks.
I refer to the statistical information on social welfare services report published yesterday. Will the Leader arrange a comprehensive debate on social protection expenditure in the next session? Some €20.8 billion was spent by the Department in 2013. Some 32% of all day-to-day spending is now spent by the Department of Social Protection, which represents 12.4% of GDP. Some 1.4 million people are in receipt of a weekly payment and child benefit now amounts to €1.89 billion and is paid to 612,000 families. Given that 782,000 people are in receipt of the free travel pass and many other services are supported by the Department, we need to have a comprehensive debate to see whether we are spending our moneys in the most effective and efficient manner.
A comprehensive debate is required to ascertain whether money is being spent in the most effective and efficient manner and targeted at the most deserving. Such a comprehensive debate would need to be scheduled over several days. I ask the Leader to make the necessary arrangements.