Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have three questions for the Leader. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of launching a report on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, LGBT, parents in this country. As outlined in the report, there are children around the country being raised within such families but, unfortunately, the report demonstrates that 46% of participants have experienced discrimination as LGBT parents. Their overriding concern relates to the legal vulnerability they face. Many of them do not have legal relationships with the children they are raising within the context of a loving family. Legislative gaps exist. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has indicated that he intends to address some of the gaps. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to come to the House for a debate on wider issues relating to LGBT families and the lack of legal protections afforded to them.

My second question also involves human rights. It is on the proposed merger between the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission. We would all agree that the recent publication of the report on Magdalen laundries reminds us that watchdogs must monitor and oversee the actions of the State in regard to human rights. Currently, neither the Irish Human Rights Commission nor the Equality Authority have a board. We have the heads of a Bill. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, when he expects the publication of the full text of the Bill.

My third and final question is one I must raise in light of the recent analysis of the Central Statistics Office statistics on poverty. Our people are poor and the numbers are going up. There are 733,000 of them, including 272,000 children. Who should we invite to the House to debate the matter? Should we invite the Taoiseach? Should we ask for the Tánaiste? Should we ask either of the Ministers with responsibility for finance? There is no strategy to combat poverty in this country anymore. To say that increasing jobs is the strategy is too simplistic. I accept more jobs will help but so much more is needed in order to get people to be job-ready. We need a whole-of-government response and a cross-party plan to get rid of poverty once and for all. Why does the Seanad not come up with a plan? How about a cross-party Seanad plan to stop people from being poor? I call on Senator Cummins, Senator Bacik, Senator MacSharry or Senator Darragh O?Brien and the Independent Senators to put aside our politics and do that?