Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to support the motion. It is very shortsighted of the Government - any government - not to embrace the opportunity to abolish this means test. It does not reconcile with our ability to dish out social supports hand over fist to people from other countries, mainly as a result of the Ukraine war, without any means test at all. Some of them are driving all sorts of vehicles and running businesses abroad. That is a matter of fact and something the Government has chosen not to listen to.

Second, there should only be one criterion for awarding carer’s allowance and that is clinical in nature. The amount of support given to people by family members and carers throughout this country is saving the country billions of euro per annum. This will not gravitate to the top because of the symbiotic relationship between senior members of the Government and the establishment and the media. If there was one thing any government could do to properly support the people of this nation and acknowledge their input, it would be to abolish the means test on the carer’s allowance.

For example, the health system is floundering at the moment. The Government lifted the embargo on recruitment but put a cap on it. In effect, it is the same thing. We need to take the appropriate steps.

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