Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I thank Deputy Canney and his colleagues for tabling this motion. I have no hesitation in supporting it. The abolition of the means test for carers is the most basic step we can take in a republic to give that word meaning. We stand here today awaiting a Supreme Court decision concerning a case in which a woman has been forced to take a judicial review all the way to the Supreme Court. I will not quote what was outlined in relation to the son but I will outline what was said in relation to the woman:

I am quite satisfied from the evidence that it is enormously demanding caring for [the son] and that the reduction of the full rate of carer's allowance ... has had a profound adverse effect on the first applicant and causes significant personal and financial strain to her as [a] full time carer...

It goes on to outline that she does not have the option of working at all. That is what we are awaiting from the Supreme Court. It may well be that it is not the most appropriate case but at least it is being teased out. This is in contrast to the Government, which held a referendum earlier this year, cynically, creating no obligation on the State. The "No" vote was the highest percentage "No" vote in Irish history. Some 73.9% voted on 8 March against the proposed referendum. Pre-legislative scrutiny was waived, the debate was guillotined and it was cynically held on International Women's Day; that is where the Government is at.

This motion asks for a pathway but the pathway has been laid out repeatedly. If it was not, it should have been clear from pre-legislative scrutiny what was necessary. Instead, we rely on carers, many in an unpaid role, which saves the economy not millions but billions. An Oireachtas committee as far back as 2022 said that at the very least people should be individually assessed and the whole family means should not be taken into account. The NUI Maynooth report commissioned by Family Carers Ireland asked for its abolition and Family Carers Ireland called for it to be abolished in June. This is the most basic thing. I do not know why a pathway is even needed but I agree with looking at that as quickly as possible. Even in simple economic terms, it is a win-win. However, we have never valued women's work or caring in this society. I wish that an economist would come into the House and put a value on what caring saves the economy because the majority of men could not go out to work unless they had a female member of the family at home in an unpaid position.

See this speech in context