Louise O'Reilly

I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning to take this matter. If he does not mind, I will refer to two separate matters. The first is the story in this morning’s newspaper to the effect that delays with funerals are feared as Waterford Hospital is to end coroner-requested autopsies. The article in question refers to a global shortage of pathologists, which means there will be furt…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply and also for the confirmation that the Department is ready to assist. The purpose of raising this issue was to ensure that the impact on families will be taken into account. I can see from the reply that the Minister of State is aware of that, but I urge that the practical impact on individuals be factored into the negotiations. As a former trade union o…

I thank Deputy Daly.

You did not read it. If you read it, you would understand it.

You should include housing in it if you are interested in doing something.

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words. I have often stood in this Chamber when we had statements on women's health and looked around to find that there were mostly women present, so I am delighted to make a contribution this afternoon. I am speaking as a wife, daughter and a granny to a grandson. I am very lucky. My dad is living well. My husband is a cancer survivor and my grandson is thr…

Yes, the working poor.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

She is not.

The Deputy asked what the Taoiseach is going to do. If the answer is nothing, then say "Nothing" and sit down.

The Taoiseach gave a commitment to phase out the means test for carer's allowance over the lifetime of the Government. It allocated €10 million for a half year in the budget - and €20 million for a full year. The Department of Social Protection tells us that it is going to cost €600 million to phase it out. At the Government's current rate, that would take 30 years. My question is a simple one. Ho…

At the current rate it is going to take 30 years.

Can the Taoiseach give carers an assurance and the roadmap because at the current rate it will take 30 years?

I just asked for the timeline.

I know that.

The total is €600 million and the Government is allocating €20 million a year. That will take 30 years. The maths are very simple.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

The pressure is on families.

You are not poor; you are just not using the right methodology.

There is an energy crisis in homes now, Taoiseach.

It is not normal.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges: — the additional costs disabled people face in their day to day lives; — an Indecon report, commissioned by Government back in 2021 confirmed the cost of disability, estimating it to be on average between €9,482 and €11,734 per annum; — this was not the first report showing a cost of disability; and — an Economic and Social Research Institute study fr…

I thank everyone who made a contribution to the debate. The Minister of State will agree the depth of feeling is very much evident in the Chamber. The cost-of-living crisis cuts deeper and lasts longer for people with disabilities and the Government knows this. The motion sets out an alternative to the Government's approach. The least we should expect from any decent Government is that it will not…