Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There was a bit of flexibility in that regard. A vote would not be called on a Friday, amendments would not be put and so on. The Deputy is absolutely correct about having flexibility on a Monday. One positive about politics is that one has a degree of autonomy over one's working day, to a certain degree. That is a benefit. One can move things around and balance them.

I take the Deputy's point about the universality of certain payments that deal with particularly difficult situations that women or families can find themselves facing. People are sometimes ahead of politicians and the political system, and I think that is the case in respect of these issues. Societal change has already happened. I might be wrong but I believe a referendum would pass but one cannot take that for granted. We have to work hard to get it right. We must prepare the ground and comprehensively inform people in advance of a referendum. Preparation and the provision of information is key.

I think people are moving ahead faster than politicians in respect of cultural changes around gender budgeting. I attended Christ the King Girls' Secondary School on Monday. The students themselves showed leadership and I got to see cultural change in front of me. That change has been led by the principal, in a way. The students introduced me to the school and guided me in. The students spoke. They are involved in international organisations. One or two of them are involved with the UN. They want to be involved in society. The mission of the school is for citizens to contribute to the world. That shift is happening and we are sometimes delayed in reflecting it in legislation, the Constitution and our budgeting systems.

The Deputy is right about the carer's allowance. We have improved it but-----