Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Good morning. Members participating in the meeting remotely are required to do so from within the precincts of Leinster House only. I remind all those in attendance to make sure that their mobile phones are switched off or on silent mode.

I welcome the witnesses. I wish to point out that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at this meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

On 18 May 2022, we heard evidence at this committee from three family carers, namely, Ms Anna Budayova, Ms Niamh Ryan and Mr. Damien Douglas, on their day-to-day challenges. We heard powerful evidence from Anna, Niamh and Damien on providing full-time care to their disabled children. They spoke about the impact the carers' allowance means test was having on them, their families and their caring roles. Their words made it crystal clear to all of us why we must work towards a financial support system for family carers that is designed around the care that is given and not how much is in the bank account of the husband or wife of the full-time carer. That evidence clearly indicated that the current eligibility test for the payment is little more than a means test, denying people financial assistance to support them in providing such vital services to our society.

Therefore, when the committee was presented with the report commissioned by Family Carers Ireland, which put figures on how this means test could be abolished, we were very anxious to facilitate a formal hearing. The report, Towards a Participation Income for Family Carers, is based on research conducted by the department of sociology at Maynooth University. The recommendations developed from this research focus on what needs to be done to advance a new model of income support for family carers. The report has recommended that we move away from a means-tested approach to the carer's allowance and instead focus on the need for and provision of full-time care. The study believes that the Department of Social Protection is in the best position to administer such a scheme, which would be known as the carers' participation income, and would do so on behalf of the Departments with responsibility for both older people and people with a disability. The study envisages the introduction of this non-means tested participation income for family carers by 2027, with the establishment of an implementation group reporting to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion in the short term to examine, first, the existing and future processes of administering care payments and, second, the methods of proving eligibility of medical care need and the provision of that full-time care. This outcome of the research builds on the previous recommendations of the National Economic and Social Council, NECS, and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality, which proposed that a participation income be established for care work. Participation income is when people are paid not for doing nothing but in exchange for an activity that is useful for society as a whole.

The recommendations in this report were endorsed by the committee and included in our pre-budget submission. While the committee welcomes the increases in welfare payments in yesterday's budget, we note that they fall short of what the committee believes was the minimum increase requirement of €20 per week in all basic welfare payments to address the 16.15% increase in headline inflation between 2022 and 2024. However, members wish to note the ongoing commitment of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, to work with the committee to address the need to improve supports for family carers. We have incrementally done so since the committee was established in July 2020. Only last month, the committee commenced pre-legislative scrutiny on the introduction of an enhanced pension provision for long-term carers of incapacitated dependents in line with the committee's recommendation to adopt the proposal of the Pensions Commission. As a committee, we will continue to work with the Minister to ensure that the recommendations in the report are incorporated into Government policy.

I welcome Dr. Nikki Dunne, Ms Emily Thyne, and Ms Catherine Cox, Family Carers Ireland, FCI; and Professor Mary Murphy, Dr. Pauline Cullen and Mr. Shane Gough, department of sociology, Maynooth University. I invite Dr. Dunne to make her opening statement.