Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

One should not link the deficiencies and difficulties in the Department of Social and Family Affairs, such as wrong and inappropriate inspectors' decisions, with people who are moving from one country to another. I ask Deputy Ring and others not to link those issues because that only leads to trouble. The Minister has taken a number of positive steps for women, yet we have still not got equality as a right. Women should have an automatic entitlement as a qualifying individual.

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