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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Pride, trans community and dementia debate

Summary

Senator Buttimer praised Pride events, urged support for the trans community, and called for an autumn debate after the Alzheimer Society’s briefing, which Senator Mullen echoed by stressing the value of care work.

We have just celebrated a wonderful month of Pride. This Saturday, Limerick Pride is taking place. There will also be a rally in Cork on trans matters, which are very important. There is a duty on all of us to support members of the trans community. We must remember that these are people, members of our Republic and citizens of this State, as are their families, and they should be treated accordingly. People should reflect upon that.

I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate in the autumn following the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's very important pre-budget submission today, which referred to the lack of dementia support for members of the LGBT community. The 64,000 men and women of our country who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease today must be supported. Not only that, but their families and those who care for them must also be supported, especially within their own homes so they can stay at home for as long as possible. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland told us that by 2045 it is expected that 150,000 of us will have Alzheimer's disease or dementia. That is a startling figure. Its pre-budget request is a very interesting one in that it is not about money. It is about the supports, the investment and the scaffolding of care we can give people. I would ask people who did not go to the pre-budget hearing today to engage with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. There is nothing for members of the LGBT community around dementia care. I would hope to have that debate in the autumn.

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I echo what Senator Buttimer just said about the pre-budget briefing of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland entitled Dementia Can't Wait. I have personal reason to be very grateful for the good work that organisation does. One of the points that came across clearly today was that the work of caring, be that within families or paid care, must be valued. People must be paid a proper wage. There is a problem in some areas, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach has pointed out, in getting people to do this important work even when the resources have been put in place to deal with it. That must be prioritised in the budget.

I also agree with what Senator McGahon said about the dangers of populism. As I said yesterday during a debate on legislation, the work of the Oireachtas and the Parliament is key in rowing against any groupthink or cancellation of people for their ideas. Only today some people addressed me as I was coming into Leinster House who are concerned about the fact that the word "woman" or the idea of being a woman is proposed to be erased from certain legislation. Those issues are controversial but there are people who want to make important points. There are people with major concerns about the human rights of children, mothers and women in the context of surrogacy. It must be possible to make trenchant interventions and state clearly what one believes to be wrong or harmful to society without being accused of being unchristian or being bullied or accused of being a bigot.

We can set an example as parliamentarians by making our points strongly without ever attacking the person. Where I have sinned against that, I apologise. Everybody should see that is the clear line. We must be allowed to express strongly-held views on important issues, provided that we do not attack other people. As far as I am concerned, Senator Keogan is the one who has suffered most in this regard in the way she was treated by this Member. She should not have been told by a Member of the Dáil to leave a committee meeting. That person acted beyond their remit. That issue must be examined to find out why that happened and to make sure it does not happen again.

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