Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending the joint committee. This is my first committee meeting and I look forward to working with the Minister and his departmental officials over the term of this Dáil. Previous speakers have mentioned a number of issues and we can all wax lyrical about our days canvassing on the doorsteps, as well as various levels of deprivation in our constituencies. Everyone has a story about families and the elderly. I would like to see an increase in pensions. I would also like to see, as Senator Alice-Mary Higgins mentioned, bringing in carers' credits and backdating the home-makers' disregard. I would like to know what exactly the Minister is considering in terms of pension equality.

The sum of €19 per week for a person living in direct provision is scandalous in this day and age. It forces many people in direct provision to work in the black market. They may work in restaurants where they have no proper terms and conditions. It is both unfair and negligent on the part of the State.

I welcome the parental leave for fathers, which should be extended to take shared parental leave into account. I would like to see a review of the role of discretionary welfare officers. I have come across families and individuals who are experiencing hard times. The scope of the discretionary welfare officer is not as far-reaching as it used to be. It might, therefore, be an idea to consider how benefits are distributed to those in such difficult situations.

Representatives of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be attending this committee in due course, but I know they do a lot of the State's work as de factodiscretionary welfare officers. However, maybe they should not be taking on that burden as much as they are at present.