Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is worth pointing out that the carer's support grant is in place as well. That is not means tested. The carer's allowance is means tested. We have relaxed the means test and are changing the pension rules in order that carers who are in receipt of the allowance can receive the full State pension. We are going in the right direction. The referendum, if passed, will protect all of that because there will be constitutional protection for carers for the first time. It will also put an onus on the Government to continue to climb the ladder and make improvements for carers. That is another very good reason why they are calling for a "Yes" vote.

It is important to put on the record of the House that carer's allowance is a social welfare payment for people who would otherwise not qualify for jobseeker's allowance because they cannot engage in full-time work. If it were to become an employment payment, that would become a very different thing. There would have to be qualifications, regulations and an application process for people to get payment. That would be a very different proposition.

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