Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that other Senators have raised the issue of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and the supports that are needed. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate in the House early in the autumn while one can still have some influence over budgetary matters. A cross-party group has been working with the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland about additional supports for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I hope that the Leader can facilitate that debate.

Many Senators have also raised the issue of migrant rights. I supported many people in this House when they raised the issue of the undocumented Irish in the US. We must be judged on how we treat the undocumented people in our own country, many of whom have lived for a decade or more with no pathway to further education or work, or any means of further contributing to society here in Ireland.

If we are not to be hypocrites, we must do something about this. We must make progress over the summer on legislation to ensure there is a pathway for young people who have been living in this country, sometimes for decades, and who cannot play a full role in society and currently have no such pathway. I ask the Leader to organise for the Minister to come to the House early in the autumn not only for a debate but also with legislation to ensure the pathway is there. Those discussions have been had at committee and in the House on several occasions. We need action now. The Labour Party group has a Bill which has been debated here. We need to reactivate that in the autumn if the Government does not make any progress on the issue over the summer.