Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Wall on the commission for defence. If the terms of reference does not include the Department then I do not know what the function of the review or the commission will be. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get it right so we need everything, including the Department, involved.

I know the Cathaoirleach is deeply concerned, as am I, with community employment schemes. I wish to raise two issues. I need to be vague by necessity in what I say now. I wish to address the responsibilities the system has placed on the shoulders of supervisors who run these schemes.

Last week, I engaged with the supervisor of a scheme who, during the course of our conversation, explained how his job involves providing psychological support, as well as everything else, to his clients. As the conversation developed, the supervisor told me how a member of the scheme's work force had to cope with a family suicide. I was deeply saddened and shocked to hear how things progressed from there because in the middle of the first lockdown of Covid-19, that same employee, regrettably, also committed suicide. On learning of the suicide, the scheme supervisor contacted the Department of Social Protection to advise it of what had happened. I understand there were a few calls on the day between the supervisor and the Department to establish the full facts. On learning the suicide took place in the early hours of a midweek day, the Department's only response was to instruct the supervisor to ensure he deducted a sum of money from the outstanding salary which would have been due to this person. I understand people have jobs to do and the management of Government finances and moneys is an important fact. If this had occurred, however, in a school, training centre or anywhere else, psychological services would have been brought in straight away to assist.

The second issue, which I will briefly mention, is the issue of pensions for community employment, CE, supervisors. It has been going on for years. People with 30, 35 and 40 years' service to the State as supervisors of CE schemes already have a Labour Court judgment on their pension entitlements. What is keeping it? I ask for a debate on CE schemes in this House with the relevant Minister. I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to go over time.