Opposition parties are being denied the time to consider a Bill containing reforms of the social welfare system, the Labour Party claimed today.
Debate on the Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill begins in the Dáil tomorrow, but Opposition parties have only received a copy of the legislation today.
Labour's Willie Penrose said the announcement of the reforms was made on December 7th last and that the Government had said it would allow TDs two weeks to consider a Bill before second stage debate.
The Bill focuses on child poverty, pensions and lone parents. It also includes the €1000-a-year payment for children under 6 announced in the last Budget.
Mr Penrose said: "It is simply unacceptable to give opposition spokespersons just 24 hours to assess such an important and complex piece of legislation.
The Bill also failed to live up to Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan's claim that it introduced fundamental reform of the social welfare system.
The Westmeath TD said it fails to address the problem of lone parents being caught in the "welfare trap" that in turn can create barriers to stable relationships.
"The needs of carers have also largely been ignored," Mr Penrose said, adding that the renaming of benefits needs careful scrutiny.