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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Children’s referendum Minister attendance

Summary

Senator O’Brien seeks the Children Minister’s attendance to explain referendum spending and threatens procedural opposition; Government-side Senators respond to his warnings and political criticisms.

First, I insist that the Deputy Leader arranges time for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to come into this House to explain the advice received and the decision taken by the Government to spend more than €1 million of taxpayers' money on the children's rights referendum. The Supreme Court judgment, about which Members learned more yesterday, was absolutely scathing in that regard. If the Deputy Leader does not arrange for the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to come into this House next week, my group and I will oppose each section of each item of business next week because the Government cannot be allowed to get away with this.

Yesterday, unlike any Government representative, I went outside Leinster House to meet people who were losing €325 in respite care grants and, in common with many Members, I met Paddy Doyle and a group of people there. However, it was indicated to me yesterday that no Government representatives even went out to meet the protesters. While €1 million might not be much to Senator Colm Burke and his Fine Gael colleagues, it would pay for a lot of respite care grants. Consequently, €1 million wasted by the Government must be accounted for and, furthermore, I call into question the advice the Attorney General gave to the Government in this regard. I cannot understand how such a glaring mistake was made on the children's rights referendum and I will insist that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, comes into this House next week. I am putting Senator Bacik on notice that if she does not arrange for this, Fianna Fáil will oppose each session of business next week. The Minister is answerable to this House and she must come in to account for how the Government took this decision. I ask the Deputy Leader to do this and I am sure time can be arranged in this regard.

To return to the issue of the respite care grant, I understand the Social Welfare Bill will be before the Seanad next week. My group, as well as other groupings, I am sure, including Sinn Féin and the Independent Members, will table amendments to it. Members will have an opportunity next week to rectify what it appears as though the Dáil will ram through this week with a massive majority of 56 seats. Members of this House have an opportunity to rectify the issues with the respite care grant, children's benefit and the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. Labour Party and Fine Gael Members will have an opportunity to show that the Seanad has relevance and teeth next week. I ask them to take soundings from the people over the weekend, that is, from their neighbours and constituents, about how they view cuts to respite care grants and other choices that could have been made by the Government. There will be an opportunity next week to make amendments to the Social Welfare Bill and to send it back to the Government.

I reiterate that I find it incredible how no Government Senators or Deputies went out to meet the protesters outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday. Perhaps Senator Gilroy did-----

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If so, fair play to him as very few did. How many Government Members even bothered to go outside to listen to people's concerns? I will not even bother to go over all the promises that were made prior to the last election. As the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, stated on television a few days ago, they were only election promises and so they stood for nothing. However, I reiterate that next week, Members have an opportunity to rectify the mistakes the Government has made in the Social Welfare Bill. I urge Members opposite to use their power to reverse the cuts to the respite care grant, to child benefit and to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

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I thank Senator O'Brien for his timely warnings about next week, which are much appreciated. The point is noted and Members on the side will be on guard.

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Inform Senator Brennan.

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I thank Senator Wilson for that, too.

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The Senators opposite can win votes in this House.

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