I have to disagree with the Minister of State because this research shows very clearly that on the ground, things are not happening. On the ground, precarious employment across the third-level sector is at an all-time high. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is talking the talk but he is certainly not walking the walk in this regard. One of the key aspects that is missing is collective bargaining with the employer body, namely, the Irish Universities Association, IUA. What the Minister needs to do is instigate that immed…

I begin by also acknowledging the fine work of Senator Seery Kearney on the surrogacy Bill. I have witnessed it first-hand. I want to once again raise the issue of Palestine and, in particular, the very powerful lobby we have received over the last week calling for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be terminated. This is the correct call to make and I am calling on the Government to make that call at Thursday's EU Council meeting. Earlier, I looked at the extent of sanctions that have rightly been applied agai…

Well said.

I thank the Minister for speaking on the amendments. As she knows, colleagues from Fórsa attended the previous two debates on the Bill. I acknowledge the Minister was good enough to speak to them on both occasions. While we welcome the two years in that amendment, it does not deal with the core issue. I have spoken to my colleagues in Fórsa almost on a daily basis in the past week. They would have been here today, were it not that this debate was only scheduled for today's sitting yesterday. However, I will read th…

I thank the Minister for her response and acknowledge the fact there was a very positive message within it, but the problem is that positive message has been there for five weeks. I accept her point about a number of people having to get round the table but the union's fear is that the Bill will go through Report and Final Stages and it will still not have a date for the negotiation to start. That is entirely unacceptable from a trade union point of view. I understand that the Minister cannot give me a date now - t…

I second the recommendation.

I second the recommendation.

I second the recommendation.

I wish to speak in favour of this recommendation. As Members may know, it has been Sinn Féin's consistent policy to support a wealth tax. Of course, this is just a request for a report on a wealth tax. It is simply to investigate what a wealth tax might actually bring in. For all the points that Senator Black has raised, namely, the issues of equality and of this society where we continue to see a small percentage of people, the 1%, getting richer even as working-class communities throughout the country struggle, i…

I second the recommendation.

I second the recommendation.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, after line 29, to insert the following: “Report on extending availability of full parent’s benefit to lone parents 8. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on extending the availability of the full duration of parent’s benefit to lone parents to examine the effect that enabling all children to equally avail of the full duration of this benefit would have and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Pro…

I hope to contribute on this also, if the Chair does not mind. I promise I will be very brief.

It is not often that I agree politically with my colleagues but I certainly agree on this. It is a grossly unfair issue that should have been dealt with years ago. It is not right. This is felt deeply across the Chamber.

I move amendment No. 2: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following:I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, after line 29, to insert the following: “Report on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission 21 . The Minister shall carry out a review on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission in order to ensure social welfare rates meet the Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) to study the effect that adequacy of social welfare rates could have on addressing poverty levels and that the report sh…

We propose the establishment of a social welfare adequacy commission that would advise the Government on social protection payment rates. The commission would make recommendations on payment rates ahead of the annual budget with the aim of ensuring they are adequate, meet a minimum essential standard of living, MESL, and protect people from poverty. This would ensure that all recipients are protected from poverty. It is important to note that these rates can fluctuate upwards and downwards depending on inflation an…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on means-testing for blind pension and disability allowance 21. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the means-testing eligibility requirement for blind pension and disability allowance and the impact that income threshold limitations have on access to these schemes and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within 9 months of the enactm…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on extending the provision of disability allowance to agents in case of bereavement of child 21. The Minister shall review the rule regarding the continuation of disability allowance payment where a person is the collecting agent for their child who passes away and prepare a report on extending payment of the payment for six weeks in these circumstances in line with the provision made for payments such as domiciliary care allowance …

I will be honest; I am a little unclear. The Minister gave a positive response. Is she accepting the amendment or is she just commissioning a report?

That is fine.