Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach go Seanad Éireann. I am happy to have the Taoiseach here in Seanad Éireann.

The Taoiseach spoke about a Government unlike any other. We are also looking at a Seanad Éireann unlike any other because this Seanad, the Twenty-fifth Seanad, is the first which was saved from abolition by a popular vote of the Irish people. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree with me and support me in recognising that, in the people being sovereign, as he himself recognised, those who voted to retain the Seanad in 2013 were voting for reform. When we spoke about a new relationship between the Irish people and their Parliament, they were voting explicitly for the right to have a relationship, both in how this Chamber is elected and in the work that it conducts. I strongly support the advance in the area of Seanad Éireann reform and I very much welcome the commitments the Taoiseach has given today in terms of recognising the Manning report, the valuable work that has been done there, the importance of the proposals, and the transformative and positive nature of many of those proposals within the Manning report. I look forward to the actions of the implementation group. I hope that those of us who are heads of technical groups rather than parties will also be invited to those discussions and I look forward to that in my own capacity as leader of this group.

I would raise one small point. In his speech, the Taoiseach speaks of the Dáil debate as being the first step in the reform process. It is important to note that steps have already been taken in the reform process, be it the vote of the people, the work of the Manning group or the Bill we have put forward and which has reached Second Stage in this House. If we wish to drive forward meaningful Seanad reform and deliver it to the people before the next time we have an election, we need to ensure we do not take any backward steps and that we continue to move forward with that Bill while discussing the implementation together. I would like the Taoiseach's assurances in that regard.

The Taoiseach also spoke of budgetary scrutiny and the new process, and I have a question for him on a specific commitment in that regard. Something I would strongly welcome is the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government on equality and gender-proofing. This is something I and many others, certainly during my time with the National Women's Council, were happy to campaign and press for, and I am delighted to see that it is part of the Taoiseach's commitment. I would like the Taoiseach to outline how he sees the equality and gender-proofing aspects of the budget being delivered, both in budget 2017 and in the future. Will there be an equality statement to accompany the budget, as is the practice in Scotland? I believe it is important that tax measures, including tax reliefs, are also included within that equality budgeting process, and this is something it would be useful to hear assurance on as well.I reiterate the point made by others that we need to be realistic when we talk about tax in Ireland. We need to be real on the figures. When we talk about corporate tax practices, we have to be real. When we talk about tax concessions, the language we use is important. In that regard, we need a reality check. I urge the Taoiseach to give leadership in the discussion around what the squeezed middle actually is. The fact is that the median earning income in Ireland is €28,500. Half of all workers in Ireland are earning that amount or less. They cannot be invisible. We need to ensure that this entire 50% of workers is not invisible in the discussion around the budget. What they need is real investment in wages that are quality wages, work that is quality work, real increases in pay and public services. Investing in public services is the way to give back to and benefit the full population. Ireland has a role also in making the case for public investment in public services at European level.

I make a special appeal in relation to care. Care is the lifeblood of our society and should be recognised in all of our economic processes, including in our summer economic statement and economic dialogues. That would be transformative not only in relation to child care but also in terms of home care and the question of statutory entitlements. We have heard Ministers say they do not want the budget to appear regressive. It must not be regressive and that must be tested. Further to the question of equality proofing, guidelines were issued by the Department of the Taoiseach to all Departments on their new three-year statements of strategy. It is unfortunate that the guidelines have not drawn attention to the public sector duty on equality and human rights. It is important for the Taoiseach to provide leadership to Departments to ensure that they are aware of their duties in that regard. I would like to have statements in the House as to how those guidelines might be amended to include clear reference to that public duty.

The Taoiseach represented the State at the highest level in signing the Paris climate change commitments and the sustainable development goals. In the past, we have also signed up to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It would be appropriate to remind Departments of those key commitments on which the Taoiseach has led and which apply across government and to ensure that those commitments are reflected in the departmental strategies for the next three years. Ireland played a key role in the negotiations around the sustainable development goals, which should be commended strongly.

Ireland also played a key role in the recent summit on refugees. At UN level, Ireland is playing a key role in moving these discussions forward. However, we must also show leadership within Europe where the EU-Turkey deal is not acceptable and the human rights of refugees are in the balance. Leadership must also be shown within Ireland where, sadly, our already inadequate commitment to take 4,000 refugees has seen us receive only 400. I know those figures are moving, but this is an area in which we can lead. The outcome of the summit was a call to all countries to do what they can. I believe we can and should do much more. We must also look at our direct provision system and the right to work. We must examine the way refugees are treated within Ireland. We must also send those positive signals because of the danger of the xenophobic language which drove so much of the Brexit debate. That is why we must send positive signals and messages of inclusion.

On Brexit, I welcome the all-Ireland conversation. Other Members have spoken to the important issues but, crucially, we must not engage in any race to the bottom on conditions in relation to Brexit. We must look to opportunities such as investment in higher education. In terms of the future of Europe, we can be strong European citizens while also being critical. We must be strong in areas like trade and on the CETA agreement which the Government seems intent, unfortunately, on signing this very month. At a time of uncertainty and when we are talking about responsibility, it would be reckless for the Government to agree to the provisional application of this trade agreement with its immense implications.

I do not have a chance to make my other points, but I look forward to the overall debate. I say to the Taoiseach that while the citizens' assembly is welcome as a discussion, it is not a sufficient response to the demands from international bodies or from the street. People want a chance to vote through the ballot box. We need a referendum to repeal, not replace, the eighth amendment. I hope a date for that referendum can be set within the lifetime of this Government.