Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I draw the attention of the House to a report which was recently laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, of which other Senators and I are members. It is an important report which deals with the position and treatment of lone parents in Ireland. Will the Leader provide time for a debate on it and its concrete recommendations? Members will be aware of the information emerging on the Bessborough home. As acknowledged in the report, the State has a poor historical record in the treatment of lone parents and their children. It is important that this be recognised and that we ensure current policy is serving the best possible outcomes for lone parents and their children. As we know, we are currently not delivering, given the extraordinary high levels of child poverty among lone parent families. The report makes concrete recommendations which reference the provision of support, rather than conditionality, in terms of engagement in employment; an extension of eligibility for the jobseeker's transitional payment until a child reaches 18 years of age; access to education; case worker support; monitoring and setting real targets for education completion; a reduction in poverty among lone parent families and, importantly, proposals in respect of the payment of maintenance. The unfortunate reality in Ireland is that many lone parents live in fear that their payments will be reduced because of the non-receipt of maintenance payments. We need to move away from this towards an efficient and appropriate State system. As I said, there are concrete proposals made in this excellent report which has received cross-party support. I reiterate my request to the Leader to provide time for a debate on the report and the constructive proposals made therein on supporting lone parents and their children and how we might move forward in that regard.

On the sustainable development goals, a ministerial meeting on the issue is scheduled to take place towards the end of July. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to update us on the position Ireland will be taking and the messages it will be sending on its delivery of and in support of other countries' delivery of the sustainable development goals. The Leader might allow a brief debate in advance of the high level meeting.