The Minister has some sympathy with my views in regard to a favourite subject of mine, the carer's allowance, to which Senator McCarthy referred. She indicated this in a previous debate on social welfare in the House. Carers have been ignored for many years and their work has gone unrecognised by all levels of officialdom. Thankfully, the situation has improved immeasurably in recent times. I am still of the view, however, that carer's allowance should be paid to everyone who fulfils that role, regardless of their circumstances. It is a recognition of difficult and necessary work carried out by such people and of the saving to the State.