My recent achievements as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Since being appointed as Minister, I’ve been responsible for leading progressive policies in Government and delivering on a number of initiatives to improve people’s lives.
Delivered an average 25% reduction in early years and childcare costs making childcare more affordable for parents.
Worked with Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to introduce the Youth Travel Card which reduces public transport costs for young people by 50%.
Led Ireland’s humanitarian response to the many thousands of Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion, ensuring accommodation could be provided to over 70,000 Ukrainians seeking refuge in Ireland.
Passed the Work Life Balance Bill, which introduced flexible working arrangements for caring purposes, 5 days Carer’s Leave, paid Domestic Violence leave, and expanded breastfeeding breaks to 2 years after the birth of a child.
Expanded paid Parent’s Leave from 2 weeks to 7 weeks.
Passed the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, 2022 which for the first time provides a clear and full right of access to all information about the birth and origins of adopted people, people affected by illegal birth registration and people who had been boarded out as children.
Passed legislation to ensure Adoptive Leave is available to male same-sex couples.
Passed the Gender Pay Gap Act to tackle pay disparity between women and men by providing pay transparency and supporting more equal workplaces.
Supported the establishment of new minimum rates of pay for early years educators and childcare professionals which resulted in a pay rise for more than 70% of workers within the sector.
Rolled out the Little Library initiative which saw every child starting school receive a free bag of children’s books from their local library.
Delivered a pilot scheme of Little Baby Bundles for expectant parents to the value of more than €300 each, with the intention of wider expansion in future budgets.
Abolished the Victorian-era Ward of Court system and created a new Decision Support Service to ensure people are supported when making decisions that affect their lives.
I joined the Green Party more than twenty years ago because I believed in protecting our environment, achieving sustainable communities, and a fairer, more inclusive and equal Ireland for everyone. In government, we are delivering on those objectives and are working to ensure Ireland is a place where children and young people, and their families are supported to succeed in life.
The past decade has shown what can be achieved when we work together and campaign for change. Now, through my work with the Green Party as a Government Minister, I am working to provide services for children and young people, further improve the lives of LGBTI+ people, tackle racism in our society, advance the rights of Travellers and migrants, and tackle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence in Ireland.
My ongoing priorities as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Continue to reduce the cost of childcare significantly for families, and support increased capacity in the sector and availability of childcare places.
Continue to improve the International Protection accommodation system and improve supports for those who flee to Ireland seeking protection.
Continue to support families’ balance of home life and work through the introduction of increased leave entitlements.
Invest in youth services and organisations to improve the experiences and outcomes of young people.
Improve services for people with disabilities, including shorter waiting lists, better access to therapies and implementation of the Assisted Decision Making Capacity Bill.
Support individuals and families to achieve a better work-life balance through the introduction of statutory leave entitlements.
Introduce a ban on so-called ‘conversion therapy’ to protect LGBTQI+ people from the harmful pseudoscientific practices.
Publish a new National Action Plan Against Racism.
Revise Ireland’s equality legislation to ensure it offers protections for all those who are victims of discrimination based on who they are.