Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the debate as this Bill is designed to protect equality in the functioning of public bodies and bring about the carrying out of equality impact assessments. It also amends the Equal Status Act 2000. This Bill is progressive legislation and I will support it in the vote tomorrow night. I commend Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Sinn Féin on bringing it forward.

Equality is a very important word for me, particularly in the modern world. More importantly, action on equality is the major issue. There is no point in talking about equality unless one implements it in issues such as in this Bill. It is about human rights, respect for the person and enjoying and celebrating difference in a modern, inclusive society. Sadly, we have a long way to go so it is up to all of us to lead on the equality agenda.

The Equal Status Acts prohibit discrimination on nine grounds. The one on which I will focus is family status - being pregnant, the parent of a person under 18 years or the parent or resident primary carer of a person with a disability. In recent days, we have all seen how the disabled and their families had to fight once again for the resource hours in our national schools. It is a constant battle, and even when they win that battle, the war must go on for rights to other services. Budget 2013 was particularly harsh on family carers who are still reeling from the 19% cut in the respite care grant, the decimation of the household benefits package, the introduction of the local property tax, the tripling of prescription charges for medical card holders and the increase in the drugs payment scheme threshold to €144. The overall cut of 5% imposed on family carers in budget 2013 was unfair and disproportionate compared with the 1.9% cut applied to the general social protection budget and continues to cause significant hardship for many carers. This Government can create better value for money by using limited resources more effectively. I also believe the Government should prioritise service quality and continuity for the most vulnerable. It should also develop and deliver strategic improvements in public policy. I strongly support the Give Carers a Break campaign in its budget 2014 submission.

These issues are all part of the equality debate, which is one of the reasons I put forward new legislation entitled the Down's syndrome (equality of access) Bill 2013 today to ensure all children with Down's syndrome get proper services and resources as a right. I will be bringing this Bill forward to the House as soon as the Ceann Comhairle permits it and allows time.

I urge all Deputies to support this Bill and commend Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Sinn Féin on bringing it before the House. It is appropriate and significant that many Sinn Féin Members who live in the Six Counties and have experienced discrimination and sectarianism have brought forward this Bill. I commend them on doing so. This Bill is about equality, justice and respect for all our citizens but, above all, it is part of building a just and inclusive society.

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