Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. I was just reflecting on this. It is such a privilege to be on any of our joint committees because we get to meet and interact with people like the witnesses who are at a very high level throughout the public service. We have had people from the private sector as well. I wanted to thank the witnesses for their time and to apologise in advance because I have to leave by 6.30 p.m. for another commitment here in the Houses.

I have some very quick questions. With regard to the Public Appointments Service, I thank the witnesses for all of the information and the statistics. I was really struck by that figure of 2.8% of people applying with a declared disability. The statistic itself was called out: 22% of the population declared themselves as having a long-standing illness. Unlike other protected categories of citizens - on the basis of LGBTQI+, ethnicity, religious formation or whatever - all of us are likely to become disabled. I think the World Health Organization tells us each of us is going to be 8% to 10%. Given that the numbers are so low, do the witnesses think there is a case to be made for radical positive discrimination, and not just targets, but that we should have set quotas to try and improve and gain greater traction on those numbers?

On the Workplace Relations Commission, I congratulate Ms Cahill on her appointment. I have many colleagues whose rights have been vindicated through the commission, so I think it does very important work. With regard to the cases taken on the grounds of disability, Ms Cahill said the number for 2023 was in or around 300. I know she is only new in her post, and maybe her colleagues could assist. I get many representations in respect of disabled citizens, and they very often follow a particular pattern. One of the recurring features is that because we do not have a rights-based approach to disability issues, it often brings the disabled person into an position whereby they have to really work harder than most to try and vindicate their rights. I know that is a very general and kind of philosophical question, but does Ms Cahill find that if we had a more rights-based approach to disability, and possibly with the full ratification of all protocols of the UNCRPD, it might ameliorate or have an impact on the number of people having to bring cases forward?

On SOLAS, I have an adult son with additional needs who is in further education. He is having a really positive experience and has great supports. He is really at the heart of that third level institution. However, I have also had representations from disabled students who find themselves almost the subject of very hostile scrutiny, where they are being actively failed by organisations on the basis of disability. It seems to me that it is almost a cultural thing. You might find a third level institution where they have a very positive culture and there are others where maybe there needs to be a little more intervention. I wonder if the witnesses have any thoughts in that regard. When you put all of the steps and the legislation in place, that is fine, but sometimes it really comes down to the culture or the values and norms for behaviour in a particular organisation.