Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

An €85 million investment is particularly needed in the light of the Covid crisis, whenThe Lancethas said mental health issues and anxiety disorders are at the highest level they have ever been globally.

I welcome the proposals for budgetary reform but I note gender and equality proofing of budgets was a reform we were promised six years ago. The system was being piloted over two or three years and it has now vanished. Where is the gender and equality proofing and the process for proofing of this budget? If it was to be replaced by wellness indicators, they are not even mentioned this year.

I would appreciate clarity from the Minister of State that overseas development aid is separate from our global climate funding commitments under the green climate fund - the €100 billion that the developed world owes to developing countries. In the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform’s speech, he seemed to suggest they may be the same thing.