Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment those who initiated this amending legislation, the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, and Deputies Conway and Lyons. They made me aware of something I could not even believe existed in society in this day and age. We come here as people who are supposed to know everything about all aspects of society. We seem to be living in an era where equality has not quite yet been achieved. Parts of the Bill will bring about a transformation for people working in public sector jobs in the State, particularly in education and health.

This is a good day for those who are divorced, LGBT or what would not be mainstream in certain religious orders.

I welcome it but I also welcome something else contained in the Bill. Stigmas get attached in society and one of them is around rent allowance. It is a fact that it is mentioned by landlords who advertise accommodation, which more often than not is so hard to come by in this city, who state that rent allowance is not accepted as if one form of money is not as good as another form of money. It is as if there is a fear of people who are in receipt of rent allowance. It is a prejudice in society that has no origins in any republic that values everybody equally. I am of the firm belief that we must do everything we can in the event that somebody has lost their home through bankruptcy, the collapse of a business, the loss of a job or for whatever reason that gives rise to a person being in need of rent allowance. This is a very good step.

I say to the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, that this is a wonderful thing and it shows the value of the Labour Party in government. It shows why we are here and why we are different. No other party or individual in this House came forward with this amending legislation. It shows there is a level of knowledge among the younger members in the Labour Party and a willingness to work towards something that is meaningful not for a majority of people but for a minority and that will work for their families as well.

I suggest that we could make some more progress in terms of equality. We must also look at the next big issue, namely, migration. My view is that we are heading towards full employment in the next 18 months and we must have regionalisation, equality within the country as well. I come from Kerry and the people of Kerry need jobs. It is not all about Dublin. There is another form of equality we must consider.

See this speech in context