Victor Boyhan Backs Gaza Amendment, Calls for Carers' Justice
Victor Boyhan spoke in support of an amendment to the Order of Business, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and praising the courage of Senator Chris Andrews and TD Barry Heenahan. He also raised the pre-budget submission from family carers of Ireland and urged colleagues to address eight core asks in the 2026 budget.
Support for amendment and Gaza
Victor Boyhan said he was in support of the amendment to the Order of Business and stated he is thinking of the people of Gaza. He framed his work by urging that "let us shine a light in a dark place" as a guiding principle and formally endorsed the amendment presented that day.
Tributes to parliamentarians
He paid particular tribute to Senator Chris Andrews for his bravery and courage and saluted the actions of independent TD Barry Heenahan. Boyhan said both parliamentarians are "shining a light" and moving beyond words into action to expose the injustice of the crisis in Gaza and its impact on people.
Family carers' pre-budget submission
Boyhan highlighted that family carers of Ireland have submitted their pre-budget document for 2026, noting it reiterates the same asks made in 2005. He commended the submission and urged colleagues to use their party and political networks to press for these measures in the upcoming budget discussions.
Eight core asks from carers
The eight bullet points recited in the speech are: abolition of the carers' allowance means test; a fair and adequate income for carers; a right, an absolute right to the spite; delivery of the statutory home support scheme; a fully funded carer guarantee; priority supports for children with additional needs; delivery of housing, transport and climate justice; and supporting working family carers.
Appeal to colleagues to act
Boyhan urged that the carers' pre-budget submission is worthy of support and called on colleagues to take the asks on board and to highlight them through their contacts and networks.
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Thank you, Coherlock and Leader. Firstly, I want to say I'm in support. First, I want to say I'm thinking of the people of Gaza. The other thing I say, and I say time and time again here, a guiding light for my own work here is, let us shine a light in a dark place. And I want to pay particular tribute to our Senator, Chris Andrews, for his bravery and his courage. He's walking the journey, and he's embarking on the journey, and he's a man of conviction, and he's one of our own. And so times like this, we as a Parliament should be united in our support of him, but also the cause of Gaza. And I'm more than happy to endorse and support the amendment to the Order of Business today. I also want to support and speak of the great courage of Barry Heenahan, our independent TD. They are shining a light. They are moving beyond words into actions to highlight the terrible injustice of the crisis that is Gaza, and more importantly, its people. And it's too easy for us to sit in our comfortable armchairs at nine o'clock and say it's all shocking and all terrible, and turn the button off and walk away. These people are walking their talk, and they're courageous, and I want to salute both of them. I just want to raise one issue in its relation to the family carers of Ireland. And everyone will be aware they've received their pre-budget document. And what's interesting for the pre-budget document of 2026 is that they say it is exactly the same asks that we asked in 2005. And there are simply eight bullet points. The abolition of the carers' allowance means test. Two, a fair and adequate income for carers. Three, a right, an absolute right to the spite. Four, delivery of the statutory home support scheme. Five, fully funded carer guarantee. Six, priority supports for children with additional needs. Seven, delivery of housing, transport and climate justice. And eight, supporting working family carers. I commend their pre-budget submission to you, and I hope that we will take it on board, and we will use our own contacts within our own party networks and political networks to once again highlight the need for these key asks. They're worthy of support, and we need to support them. Thank you. Kurt Markle.
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