27 March 2007
Dr. Henry: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time with me. I, too, am grateful to Senator Cox for raising this issue. Last week, I raised the issue of the Environmental Protection Agency report on private water schemes. The pollution is worse now due to sewage than when I was first elected to the House 15 years ago. This is unbelievable. The outbreak of cryptosporidium in Galway is scandalous. Senator Cox referred to making porridge and tea but people are also advised not to bathe their babies in this water. What on earth are people on social welfare supposed to do to wash their children? How much water would one have to boil to wash children? This is just ridiculous and there seems to be no sense of emergency about it. I am disgusted by the response of the Government to this shocking issue. I see no sense of any desire to clean up the act. That is about all one can say about it.
Senator Cox also raised the important issue of what a poor example is provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas in terms of maternity leave. That should be investigated as a matter of urgency. The old chestnuts have arisen in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. Like everyone else, I am pleased with the improvements that have been made.
I always have been concerned about lone parents, being the patron of formerly Cherish, now One Family, but I hope the Minister will concentrate on those who are managing best rather than penalise those who are not managing very well. He should try to find out the reason they are not managing very well. Perhaps it is because they are carers to elderly parents as well as having children of their own or because they have had poor educational opportunities in the past. We can be sure it is due to lack of child care. We do not want children given anti-social behaviour orders because their mothers have to go out to work.
Section 6 struck me as rather amusing. I suppose it provides for an improvement in maternity benefits in that if the woman dies, they can be paid to the father in certain circumstances. However, subsection (b), paragraph (b) states that where "she [the woman] fails, without good cause, to attend for or to submit herself to any medical examination that may be required in accordance with regulations made under this section" the benefits will not be paid.
This morning I drew the attention of the House to the fact that it is now not possible for women in the Galway and Drogheda areas to get appointments for ante-natal care before they are 20 weeks pregnant. It is advised that one should go for this care at 12 to 14 weeks. Is it the woman's fault if she does not manage to attend before she is 20 weeks pregnant? This is interesting and I suggest the Department of Social and Family Affairs should address this matter with the Department of Health and Children because people may be disqualified before they are in a position to attend for ante-natal care.
Have any improvements been made in the mobility regulations for disabled people? I have been asking about matter this since I was elected to the House. The regulations are archaic and people who would like to work are being denied mobility allowances. I hope when replying the Minister will be able to tell me those regulations have been updated.
Visit the Irish Government Website for the full text of this speech
