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

I ask the Senator to withdraw both of her amendments for two different reasons. One is because there is already a report so I do not need an amendment to the legislation to provide what we have done already during the deliberations and preparations for budget 2020. I would be very happy to share it with the Senator today or in the next couple of days. It helps explain the reason for the decision to increase the hours from 15 to 18.5 and not follow with what was probably expected, that is an increase in the means test disregard.

On amendment No. 4, we carry out a review, probably of all our schemes, annually. The amendment asks that I "carry out a review of the means test in place for Carer’s Allowance in consultation with key stakeholders". Every year, including this year, I have a pre-budget forum where all stakeholders for the relevant schemes come and give us their submissions. The only difference is that I have not gone out and sought it or, rather, they have gone and volunteered it to me. Again, I have a report that I can give the Senator that will show her exactly what the means test is based on, how it is calculated and why we do not pay for care. What my Department actually does is provide an income support. That really jars with some people because, as the Senator said, there are tens of thousands of people who are providing care who do not get paid, or some get the respite care allowance but do not get financial recompense that they would regard as representing full value for the care they provide. My difficulty is that the Department provides income supports. We look after the people who do not have the means to look after themselves. We need to have a national conversation about care and the value of care. I raised this matter at the EU Council meeting yesterday. It is the elephant in the room when we talk about gender equality and about how to get women back to work. Offering all the advantages, programmes and initiatives that the various EU member states employ to try to encourage women back to work is all very well but there is not much point to these if we do not engage in a conversation about the value of care and the value that we place on women staying at home and rearing their children. There is also the question of all the women - although some men also do so - who take time out of their careers to mind people they love and cherish when those individuals are ill and cannot mind themselves. If we have a national conversation about care and the value we place on it, we may have a different policy than simply paying the income support that comes through my Department.