Ms Louise Bayliss:

We have all the statistics and data, and we know exactly who is living in poverty in Ireland. We are not making reasonable accommodations to ensure they get access. CEDAW's final observation report was issued yesterday. It highlights that children in lone-parent families experience three times the level of deprivation of two-parent families. We know that children represent 30% of people in homeless emergency accommodation. I do not think we are letting that sink in. We know all the barriers that are there and what should be there, and we also know the solutions. I was at a meeting earlier at which somebody said, "Not another report". I absolutely understand the sentiment. We understand who is in poverty and what are the causes but we are not doing anything about it. The Bill cannot cover everything, and it will not cover everything, but there should be some positive discrimination for those suffering most.

Something else raised by CEDAW yesterday, which is also in the heads of Bill, is positive discrimination. The Bill names groups such as Travellers, migrants and lone parents but it does not say how companies will be encouraged. It is very aspirational. How will we encourage companies to ensure that lone parents and Travellers are accommodated and that somebody from Darndale putting their address on their CV is accommodated? We need to know what the positive steps will be and what the rewards will be.

We see with disability where this has made a difference. It is not a massive difference, and it not in the way it should be, but grants are available to people who hire people with a disability. There are supports available. There are incentives. We should be doing this for every group impacted by these levels of poverty. If we had legislation that shored up all those holes, it would be a start. We know who is there and we should identify those who need the support. I know I focus a lot on poverty and homelessness but I believe if people do not have a secure home and access to reasonable living, no other right really matters. It is very important that we get these basic rights in place before we access other rights.