Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this motion on a rights-based care economy with my colleagues in the women's caucus and the gender equality committee set up after the citizens' assembly report. We all know that if carers downed tools for even a day, our economy and society would grind to a halt, except, carers, of course, would not do that, which governments know. In so many cases, they are motivated by the one thing that leaves them exhausted yet tireless and entirely unprotected in their work of caring, which is their love for the person they care for. It is significant that the motion was brought forward by the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, women being, time and again, the carers for a beloved child with profound disabilities or for a parent with dementia or issues related to old age. Our men are equally outstanding but, by and large, it is women who do most of the caring. Many of our carers lose their own health and lives in trying to take care of the health and lives of those they care for, from lack of money, rest, support, social contact and access to the most basic services. There is no one to take over regularly and no compassion by the State, which demands endless form-filling. They do not even have time to be sick, never mind going to the doctor or being able to give themselves a chance to recover. When that caring finishes, usually through bereavement, and all their work is done and all the love they felt is still there, they are left to pick up the pieces of their broken lives, damaged health and precarious financial positions. We all praise them and tell them they were great and how devoted they were; that is about it. I say this on behalf of many people in north Kildare who have to spend their lives fighting for every little thing. They would give anything to keep their beloved relative at home instead of putting them into long-term care if only they had the proper supports. We need compassion in our care policies and all Departments that deal with them. We need mercy, respect, dignity, oodles of cop on and, above all, the ability to stand in the shoes of carers, shoes that are too old, worn and tight because of the constant demands on the people who wear them. I reiterate Deputy Cullinane's call on the optional protocol. It was one of the issues I brought up. It is essential that we adopt it because we need a rights-based system, not just grants and political favours. For the season that is in it, I wish carers across County Kildare and the country and the Minister of State and her staff a happy Christmas. It feels a bit early to say it because I do not have my tree up yet. I thank them for all their help.

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