Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Carers from all over County Wexford have asked me to make their position known. I have had calls from Duncannon, Duncormick, Kilmore, Rosslare, Oilgate, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Wexford town and all over County Wexford. They have asked me to represent the hurt, rage, disbelief and disappointment they feel at this Government’s choice not to reorganise and recognise their contribution and abolish the means test for carer's allowance. They feel their worth has not been acknowledged even though the Government has widened or increased the threshold - many of these carers will never make the threshold - particularly because of the false sense of expectation the Minister gave them during the referendum on carers. They sent me a document which they want me to read to the Minister. They are her words:

I know there’s more to do. There really is. And the fact is, if we vote Yes on Friday, that strengthens my hand to do more for carers.

What we need to do is sit down and fully assess the contribution that carers are making to our society and how we can support them in the work that they do, because some people cannot work because they’re caring full-time for somebody who has a disability, or maybe an elderly person, or whatever reason they need that support.

“We need to just deal with this issue once and for all,” the Minister said.

In a press release, the Minister was quoted as saying:

Fine Gael takes great pride in delivering a more modern, inclusive Ireland and these referendums are a key part of that. It is so important that our constitution reflects the Ireland of today - an Ireland that recognises that all families are different, an Ireland that places huge value on the role played by our carers.

We have never actually had a discussion in this House about that referendum that cost us €20 million but failed, and it failed dismally.

The carers believe that the Government and the Minister are speaking out of both sides of their mouths. They want the Minister to explain why she has chosen not to recognise all carers and why she thinks it is okay to disregard their worth and leave them solely dependent in many cases and make them vulnerable through dependence on others for income. Why does she reject the research on abolishing the means test? This research, commissioned by family carers who supported the Minister and her Government in the referendum, was carried out by Maynooth University. Family Carers Ireland supported the Minister. Will she respond to the carers who feel so let down?

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