Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)

I do not doubt the bona fides of the Minister, but the referendum was overwhelmingly rejected because of the false narrative that was played out, hypocrisy and a failure to recognise that we cannot function as a society without carers, the vast majority of whom are women and are not paid. We need to recognise that. While I welcome the changes that have been made, which are positive, it is an utter and abject failure to recognise that we need to value the work of carers in a manner that is realistic and put a value on it.

I understand that an interdepartmental committee was established and was supposed to report to the Minister. The Minister for Social Protection was to receive a report from the working group by quarter 3 of last year. As of 27 February, the Minister had not received the report. Has that work been concluded? Is the report somewhere? Have I missed it?

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