Making Ireland Fairer
Continue drafting legislative amendments to advance human rights
Legislating Away Unfairness
In my role as Mary Upton TD's parliamentary adviser I have come across a large number of issues that need to be dealt with before it can be said everyone in Ireland is treated equally fairly.
For instance, a blind person who chooses to study outside the island of Ireland is not entitled to a blind pension. This makes no sense. We should have rules which help people to live independently.
Those who are forced into nursing homes outside of the area of their residence should have the right to refuse to be so treated. They are often denied the right to a family life when no one from their family can visit them as a result of being sent to a nursing home far from their real home.
Couples who are not able to marry but who would like to should be treated the same as married couples in relation to taxation, inheritance and social welfare.
In each of these instances relatively minor legislative changes could lead to great changes on the ground. It is these kinds of changes that I will seek in legislation I am given the opportunity to amend and initiate in the Seanad and in Joint Oireachtas Committees.
