Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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On the other side of the social equation, we are about to get rid of the care for people working in the home in a referendum. I have asked the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs and Employment Affairs and Social Protection what plans there are to recognise that some people who are not in the paid economy are doing work that matters and is important and valued. We are close to full employment now and we should not create a society such as that described by Senator Elizabeth Warren as the dual income trap, where it is all about the paid economy, those who are not in the paid economy do not count and those who stay at home do not matter. Is there any sign that the budget might stand up for that important community? It could be a range of caring work and should not be sexist oriented. Are there any plans to recognise that carers matter in the budget?