Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The idea of the State, and the money that we have to spend in the State, is to provide people with a certain standard of living in their vulnerable or old years. That work should not be as complex as people make it out to be. We must consider how much money the Social Insurance Fund will yield over the next couple of years. We must recognise that far more people will reach pension age than younger people who pay for those pensions. We must analyse how we manage the Social Insurance Find over the next ten, 20, 30 and 40 years and ensure we provide for the older generation who are living longer and healthier lives. We must ensure that they enjoy their lives by having a few bob in their back pockets every week. We must ensure that they experience a good old age.

We must consider all the numerous and worthwhile recommendations in the report. I will make sure that every Department reports to me on a six monthly basis on where they are with specific objectives that have been set for them. I can manage this work because only two Departments are specific to me. We must make sure that we consider that experience. As a State, we must ensure that our interactions with people, whether they are in their dying days or the bereaved who have lost loved ones, are dealt with as compassionately and with as much care and consideration as possible.

Senator McFadden was here earlier. I know the Department she talked about and it is mine. Unfortunately, many of the payments are governed by legislation and certain boxes must be ticked. On Monday of last week or the week before, a wonderful gentleman was brave enough to go on "Liveline" to tell us about his experience at the hands of the State. As a result we must all go to every Department to say that while something might be set in statute, there must be wriggle room for compassion. We are all people and not one of us would want our mother, father, grandmother, grandchild or anybody we love and care for to be treated sometimes by Departments in a cold and clinical manner. If nothing else, today's report should make every Department think about their interactions with citizens. We are here to serve citizens and we are lucky to have the privilege to do so.

I will come back with recommendations on a twice yearly basis. The initiative will help us to analyse where we are now and we might have a review to ensure that we are doing what we are supposed to do. I commend Senator O'Donnell on a beautiful piece of work, as many people have said here tonight. The report is a testament to her positive view of what growing old and dying should be like, and how the bereaved should be treated by the State thereafter. I thank Senators for the courtesy that they have extended to me tonight.