We’ve costed it and it’s fiscally sustainable, representing a tiny portion of our bumper corporate tax receipts. 

I’m proud to be standing with disabled people as I bring my first motion to the Dáil with the support of my party colleagues.

That is why the Social Democrats are bringing a motion to the Dáil next week to introduce an immediate Emergency Winter Payment of €400 for disabled people. It’s a modest ask, but one which will help people who are making unconscionable choices just to survive this winter.

The government promised a permanent cost of disability payment in the Programme for Government, and they have failed to deliver it.

The EU can’t engage in empty rhetoric and selective applications of international law, and needs to stand up for these fundamental principles. 

We stand with Greenlanders, now and always.

The US administration is now escalating its rhetoric and displaying a flagrant disregard for international law and the fundamental right of self-determination, guaranteed under Article 1 of the UN Charter.

He had come in to speak about Denmark’s presidency of the EU, and so I also asked him about other issues like technology laws, social media regulation, the EU Democracy Shield, and navigating the changing geopolitical landscape, but Greenlanders’ self-determination was first and foremost in my mind.

I’m hoping Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing will step up to ensure people live in safe, comfortable homes and that maintenance work is carried out in good time.

There are also serious ongoing issues with maintenance processes which need to be restructured at City Council level.

The residents of Pearse House in the South Inner City have been facing these issues for too long, and have consistently failed as plans to improve conditions and engage in regeneration have been rejected.

I ran the numbers, and the increases to the fuel allowance don’t make a dent in the price rises, which means older people and those on social welfare payments will be most heavily affected. The government is leaving everyone worse off, and completely failing the most vulnerable, yet again.

In our manifesto at the general election last year, one of our red lines for government negotiation was a senior Minister for Disability, so having the two committees come together like this on such an important issue is exactly the kind of work I’d like to see more of in the Dáil.

#disabilities

I’ve been particularly focused on the employment question since the budget, particularly with regard to the Wage Subsidy Scheme and how the supposed government increases penalise employers who employ more disabled workers.

That means being honest about the levels of aid we’re committing and how we’re accounting for it, which is why in July I called on the government to separate out the in-donor costs for refugees and move to the more accurate domestic economic indicator of GNI*.

#development #oda

Ireland needs to not only uphold its commitment to transnational institutions and system of Overseas Development Assistance, but also to lead the transition to a more grant-based system which can strengthen the effects of aid.

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin are not allowing a free vote on an issue that the vast majority of the country is in agreement on - fox hunting needs to be banned.

The minister accepted none of them, preferring to push through the bill with just the inadequate measures the government set out when they chose developers over ordinary people on Budget day.

I look forward to pressing for more amendments when the bill reaches report stage next week.

We would have abolished the means test for carers, increased parent’s leave, introduced a cost of disability payments, and increased core rates, including jobseekers and pensions by 50% more than government proposals. We have shown how we would do all of this in a sustainable, achievable way.