Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Senator Devine did indeed make a very serious error which caused much hurt to the Stack family. She has rightly profusely apologised for her unacceptable actions. Our party president, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, acted swiftly and decisively to implement the disciplinary process which led to Senator Devine being suspended from the party for three months.

Today I want to talk about this week's report from Social Justice Ireland, which once again exposed the reality of systematic poverty which is hidden behind the flashing lights, spinning headlines and fancy presentations designed to mask the inequalities and struggles of the 780,000 people, or 16.5% of Ireland's population, who live below the poverty line. We continue to see that having a job does not equate to coming out of poverty. Behind all the data we see that individuals and families are working day and night while struggling to make ends meet. These are the families that have to deliberate over whether their children are sick enough to warrant the €50 or so it costs to take them to the GP.

They are also the individuals who end up on hospital trolleys, who have no medical card and who cannot afford medical insurance. They are charged the standard Government levy of €80 per night, regardless of whether they get a bed or not. Can it be believed that one has to pay a Government levy of €80 to spend a night on a hospital trolley while being stripped of dignity and left at risk of cross-contamination on a draughty corridor? That is absolutely unacceptable and the Government needs to look at it in light of the huge and ever-increasing numbers of people on hospital trolleys. The people who are being hit by this levy are the working poor. They are the people who have already paid €100 as an emergency charge. They are the people who struggle to find the rent, the mortgage payments, the school transport charges and other household bills. We also see that the poverty rates in rural Ireland are increased by higher costs, including travel costs, and by low-income employment.

Government policies which protect the extremely wealthy while draining every last cent from those on low incomes can be stopped and have to be stopped. We have to heed the report from Social Justice Ireland, which is similar to the reports made by the Combat Poverty Agency ten and 12 years ago. We have to seriously look at those who are working in this country and yet cannot afford a basic standard of living and who are continuously kept below the poverty line.