I'm staying away from this thread. It's obvious that the ideal is a two parent household but life doesn't work out that way. Bastard is a disgusting word.There are no bastard children just bastard parents.
To be honest, I don't believe Myers was being critical of the children...
...but he was criticising the career-welfare moms, who deliberately go out and get pregnant for a welfare cheque, and childrens allowance. An unemployed single mother with one child can get about €1,000 a month (that's about $1,250) in Ireland. It's a problem.
BTW, they also get free health care, and rental allowance.