Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be delighted to support Senator Higgins's Private Members' Bill when it is before the House today. It will put quality at the heart of the procurement process and is rightly being called a game changer.

I wish to draw the House's attention to a report that was recently published by Unite the Union, entitled "Hungry Bellies Are Not Equal to Full Bellies: Exploring inequality and deprivation in Ireland". This report addresses the real inequalities that still exist in this country and engaged with groups that worked with people who had been left behind. As we approach discussions later this year - it is actually just around the corner; we do not feel the year going by - on budget 2022, it is important that we know exactly what we are talking about. The report will be of interest to every Senator. I am sorry. I am a little bit nervous and I do not know why. The report was brought about by a comment made in this House during a debate on social protection. Senator Buttimer highlighted a newspaper article and other reports claiming that we were a richer and more economically equal people, but we all know that is not true. This report corrects the record.

When we discuss economic equality, we cannot refer to income alone. The Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, lists seven factors: income, wealth, access to public services, taxation, the make-up of families, personal capacities and the cost of goods and services. When we discuss economic equality, let us talk about the two-tier health system, education, housing and the privatisation of people in homelessness and families in emergency accommodation. Let us talk about how Traveller women live 12 years less than women in the general population and Traveller men live 15 years less than men in the general population. Let us talk about the national childcare scheme, the lone parents and families in greater need, and the hundreds of people, including children, that voluntary organisations are feeding every day. Let us talk about how much money people have in their pockets at the end of the month. This year, people in Donegal once again have the lowest level of disposable income.I do not have time to finish. The issue of economic inequality was brought before the House last December. We need to address some of these inequalities and look at the issue because it is so real. We are far from being an equal Ireland either economically or more generally.