18 December 2003
Dr. Henry: I have never been called a member of "the rest of the crew" before. I am not speaking on their behalf but Senator Wilson will be pleased to know that we have recovered from the knock-out punch of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy. He is extraordinarily fortunate to have the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, to send here today. I have the greatest respect for her and know that she will do the very best she can for all those under her care. We welcome all of the improvements in social welfare payments and so forth. However, there must be aspects of the Social Welfare Bill 2003 with which she is disappointed. I will certainly not ask her to enumerate them. I know that she has tried her best to shield people in areas where they have been removed from social welfare allowances or assistance.
It would be very sad in this day and age - though a report today states our competitiveness appears to have gone badly compared with the rest of the European Union - if we were unable to improve the situation regarding social welfare allowances. I am even older than Senator Wilson who was only recently at school. I campaigned not that long ago for optical and dental benefits for the wives of insured workers. It was about 20 years ago when such matters were staggering. There have been great improvements since. I welcome the ones made in the budget but we have come from a very low base. It is great to see the improvements in the country which have allowed for this. I take seriously the warning about our apparent lack of competitiveness. I am sure the Government will do everything in its power to rectify matters.
I recently attended a meeting of the International Medical Parliamentarians Organisation in Bangkok which was addressed by an economist from the Philippines. He referred to the Asian tiger and how the economies in the Far East changed so much approximately 15 years ago. He stated that the latter had resulted from a change in the fertility rate among women in the Far East. Women in that part of the world began to have smaller families and were able to go out to work as a result. Perhaps someone will compile a thesis on the change in the fertility rate among Irish women between 1970 and 1990, when it nearly halved. Not long after 1990, the Celtic tiger arrived. I know the Minister will take particular account of the contribution women have made to the great improvements we have enjoyed in the past ten years.
I wish to refer to the disallowance of rent allowances for the first six months after people rent flats. The Minister, who has spoken at our meetings, is aware that I am president of Cherish. Knowing her concerns about this area, I am sure she has read the Crisis Pregnancy Agency's recommendations. One of the most important recommendations is that we should ensure that people in crisis pregnancy situations - even in this day and age such people are still being thrown out of their homes - would not resort to abortion due to a lack of accommodation. A crisis pregnancy cannot be planned. It is a contradiction in terms to state otherwise. An important part of Cherish's strategy is to be in a position to inform people that they will be able to get into accommodation and that they would be paid an allowance. The Minister stated that she would consider the position of those who are experiencing severe social problems. However, I am concerned that many young women who become pregnant will think that the safety net has been removed and resort to having abortions in England. I ask the Minister to reconsider this matter to see if she can rectify the position. We are spending a great deal of money on the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and we state that we are committed to reducing the abortion rate in this country. However, that rate will not be reduced by failing to provide accommodation.
Some people seem to believe that women get pregnant in order to get houses. During the recent debate on homelessness, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, admitted that the vast majority of people on the housing list are single. He did not specify whether these individuals have children but they are not doing well in their objectives if they are still on housing lists. I have been contacted by very angry individuals who informed me that while they are single mothers with children, people seem to think that they obtain accommodation very easily. However, this is not the case.
I am also concerned about crèche allowances. I was one of those who welcomed individualisation with open arms because I paid heavy tax. Until the advent of individualisation, I paid tax at the top rate for all of my married life. A girl must think of herself occasionally, so I was delighted when individualisation was introduced. However, it is disappointing that neither child care nor care of the elderly is allowable for tax relief. If an initiative were taken in this area, it would offset the fact that there is no social welfare allowance for crèches. I spend a great deal of time trying to encourage single mothers to try to obtain employment because regardless of how generous are the social welfare benefits they receive, they will do much better if they obtain decent jobs and can manage to make their way in society. I ask the Minister to reconsider the position in this area.
I am also disappointed about the position vis-à-vis medical cards. I am aware that the number of people over 70 who would not be means tested for medical cards, and who applied for and received them, was hugely over-estimated. We are now faced with the iniquitous situation where doctors are paid a higher rate in respect of richer people over 70 than for their poorer counterparts, who may require more of their care. There are a number of strange anomalies in this area and I would be grateful if the Minister would give consideration to them. People with very modest incomes cannot obtain medical cards and everyone knows that being poor is not good for one's health.
The Minister has made improvements in respect of the disabled. However, I again bring to her attention the review in respect of disabled drivers and passengers. I first raised this matter in July 1999. I was informed at that stage that a review was under way. After four and a half years I thought it reasonable to inquire again about the position, particularly as some people who had bought cars at the time had asked me whether anything could be done for them. The allowances for disabled drivers and passengers, which relate to VAT, motor taxation, etc., are very worthwhile. Some people who are well deserving of assistance - this is recognised by those who decide who should receive help - are not in a position to receive it due to the outdated restrictions that are in place. This matter has been under consideration for four and a half years. When I contacted the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I was informed that the report is being reviewed.
Mary Coughlan: The Department of Finance.
Dr. Henry:The review could go on and on. A man who is thinking of changing cars contacted me in the autumn to ask if I thought there would be any improvement in the position. I ask the Minister to look into this matter.
The number of children still considered to be living in poverty is disappointing. I was surprised to hear a Member on the Government benches recently refer to the NGOs who look after these children. I thought these organisations were called charities. It is important to remember the number of people in this country who will rely on our excellent charities, which deserve our support, this Christmas. I was saddened when I heard a woman on radio earlier this week state that the only new clothes her children had received in the course of the year were their school uniforms. I know the Minister does not want such situations to continue to obtain.
The Minister will receive great support from the rest of the crew in her further negotiations with the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy. We have not been floored by the knockout punch. I am sure the Minister made great efforts in her earlier negotiations with the Minister for Finance. I am particularly concerned about single mothers and the fact that we are investing a great deal of money in the crisis pregnancy agency, the recommendations of which are not being taken on board as a result of what is happening with the social welfare system.
Dr. Mansergh: I wish to acknowledge the important role Senator Henry played in securing optical and dental benefits for spouses. That was a real social improvement at the time. I was a member of the tax strategy group and I recall that, year after year, we wrestled with the question of disabled drivers. It is not easy to deal with this matter and if the scheme could be targeted properly, improvements would be easily made.
Dr. Henry: Exactly.
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