Minister's flip-flop

Last night in an official statement:

“I do not intend introducing a meanstest for Child Benefit. Means-testing Child Benefit is not being considered by Government, and is not in the Programme for Government. As Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, I support the universality of the Child Benefit payment, and the principle that all families with children should receive this income support.”

Earlier on ‘Today with Sean O’Rourke’ with Richard Curran: “What I suggested was I was very open to looking at the report, that I have never read – the Ita Mangan report – that was prepared for the then social protection minister in 2011/2012.”

NOTE: The Mangan Report suggests means-testing as one option for reforming child support structures.

Richard Curran: “So you’ve actually ruled out means-testing before reading the report then?”

Regina Doherty: “Well I actually have, only because it doesn’t recommend means-testing. And for all of the reason why everybody will tell you, it’s cumbersome and by the time we get it effectively, to establish an IT system.” Last Friday at the IIEA debate:

“I have just made a note – to look at the counties where households earn over €100,000 and are paid the children’s allowance.

“We need to invest heavily in childcare, and [if] we can’t have a good quality childcare and a universal payment system [child benefit], we need to weigh that.”