Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise a matter raised in a report in The Irish Times today that we have now discovered a new generation, the sandwich generation. They have been added to the dinkies, minkies and the squeezed middle, but it raises a serious issue. It has to do with a cohort, particularly of women in their 50s and 60s, who are caring for aged or aging parents at the same time as they are looking after their children. I ask the Leader for a debate on family policy, something that has been raised in the House on a number of occasions. What are we doing, for example, to develop family-friendly work opportunities? What more could we be doing in this regard? How could we be looking at the social welfare system to ensure our policies are family friendly? I note that at the Constitutional Convention there have been a number of discussions about the definition of the family and how, in the 21st century, we need to revisit the issue. It is one, particularly in terms of the role of carers, that we need to take seriously in terms of constitutional reform. In the context of a previous request that we look at some of the issues that have come up at the Constitutional Convention, I again ask the Leader for a debate in this Chamber on some of the recommendations of the convention, particularly in so far as they relate to the family. We should have a specific debate on evolving issues relating to the welfare of the family.