Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the women of the past and of the present. In particular, I thank the mothers whom I often speak about. They are in charge of mom's purse. I have often spoken about mom's purse. What I mean by this is that if all is well with mom's purse everything is good but if it is not everything is not good. Ministers for Finance should always keep a very close eye on mom's purse. At the moment, mom's purse is under attack because of the massive increased costs in fuel, energy and the basic things we need to live. Mothers and people managing the finances in houses are finding it extremely difficult at present. I thank people in the housing department in Kerry County Council who deal with young mothers looking for housing. I also thank those in the homeless section who deal with people who are vulnerable and in need of assistance. I thank the people who operate the women's refuge and women's shelters. To be honest, there should not have to be a women's refuge. They should not have to seek refuge from anybody or anything. There should not have to be a rape crisis centre in County Kerry or any other part of the country. Services such as this should not be required. This is how I look at it. I compliment the people who work in the services. I respect the great contribution of mothers in particular and the contribution that all women make in their jobs.

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