Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader convey our concern that people who often live from payment to payment, week to week, have been told they cannot access their pensions without a public service card, despite an answer from the Minister this week in which she assured us that An Post did not require the public service card of people accessing pensions and other payments? The Data Protection Commissioner is conducting an investigation into the legality of how the public service card has been rolled out. Can we have a moratorium on requirements being increased for presentation of a public service card when we do not know whether the system being introduced is fit for purpose and properly designed?

I share the concerns of many on seeing the issue of housing in Ireland being diminished by suggestions that our figures are less than some, more than others, are average. There has been concern at the expressions used not simply by the Government but by a former head of the Housing Authority, which is very serious, like the poor are always with us.

There is another level to that concern. In the past week some Ministers have spoken of how we need to be very careful about our refugee issues and other areas, such as health and housing. The urgency of the housing issue is given as the reason that we cannot perform other good, necessary and moral actions needed in our society and at the same time we are told housing is not a problem. I am concerned, first, at the diminishing of this issue and, second, at the idea that it be maintained in some way at some level where it can be used against others. We have heard a lot of talk in recent months about this group versus that group.Which do we want? We have to make these hard choices. It always seems to be vulnerable groups which are being set against others when these hard choices are being made. We do not tend to drag in, for example, the massive tax relief systems. If we are having a positive narrative, it is important that we be honest about problems and own them and that we ensure we never use a problem in one area of society to diminish progress in another. I say this having come from the World Forum for Democracy, at which I spoke last week. We can see the very dangerous consequences when groups which are marginalised within society are, in any sense, set against each other or encouraged to take the perspective that they are competing. I say this to the Leader knowing that he is very committed in dealing with all of these issues. Can we be very careful about our political narrative? We are at a dangerous time and what might seem like an easy way to dismiss a problem now will store up greater problems. We have seen the fascists on the streets of Poland this week. It is of major concern to everyone across Europe. We need to lead by providing a responsible political narrative. I appeal to the House and the Minister via the Leader in that regard.