Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also compliment Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell. I was also at the launch and it was a very interesting and different experience. I also compliment all the people who supported the Senator in delivering this document, which is broad-ranging and far-reaching in nature. I also agree that it is timely.

We would not have had this debate 100 years ago as people would not have been living so long. People are having fewer children and the demographic profile of society has changed. The only way we are sustaining population growth in the West is by living longer, unlike in developing countries where people produce more children. We should consider ourselves blessed that we have the space to have this type of conversation because in many countries they do not have it. It is also challenging because 60 is the new 40. We want to have quality of life. People work hard and have built up the country and the society that we enjoy. We have to look at housing and where people have mobility issues they should, if at all possible, stay at home and be supported, which is the cheaper option anyway. Senator McDowell spoke of pensions but who will pay for them if our younger people have gone? This leads me to the issue of migration, which is a massive topic for us as we grow older. Hopefully, we will enjoy good health as we do so.

I congratulate the Minister. I know she has empathy with this topic. I wish to raise one issue, however. At the moment, people get carer's benefit for two years. If they have a dependent child who is terminally ill, one parent can stay at home for two years until the payment stops, after which they are means tested for carer's benefit. If the other parent continues to work they can avail of the carer's benefit if they take two years out but that may not suit the set-up. There needs to be some accommodation when there is a dependent child or adult involved so that spouses or civil partners can share their PRSI credits to maximise the amount of benefit. If the other spouse stayed at home, the State would still have to pay carer's benefit. It is just transferring credits to somebody else. I am involved with such a case and I will bring it to the attention of the Minister. It would bring fairness all around. I welcome this debate.