Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Having one Member, and even the conversation about how we had one Member, is not enough during the history of politics in this country. To put the record straight one person who was a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas was also a wheelchair user. I know it was only recently that the Houses and the AV room were made wheelchair-friendly. I know this committee meeting remit is not about the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is about employment for people with disabilities but it is important we start here and say we need more representation of people with disabilities in politics and when making these big decisions around worker relations. I had to pop out of the meeting for a few minutes but 300 cases were taken in 2023, if I am correct. It is absolutely appalling in today's Ireland that there is still that level of discrimination against people with disabilities and people who are disabled.

Quotas are brilliant. We have a lot of quotas for women's participation in society but we are falling when it comes to the participation of people with disabilities and disabled people. Senator Clonan spoke about positive discrimination and it can be very positive and create good opportunities to support people in reaching their full potential. It can also be negative. We can set people up to fail. We can make mules out of people being there because they are disabled or have a disability and that is not fair. When we talk about intersectionality and people with disabilities it is about making sure the person can reach his or her full potential in any employment.

The committee visited the National Learning Network on Kylemore Road in Ballyfermot and saw how it created opportunities for people with disabilities to not only learn but to have a paid role. That was important. People in that service worked in recycling and it was by choice. A lot of the jobs for people with Down's syndrome and for people with disabilities are packing shelves. We need to rethink that because people with disabilities can do so much more than just pack shelves or do gardening. Do not get me wrong, many people want to do that but there should be more opportunities available.

As for Solas, I know from attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education that it is brilliant when it comes to supporting people with disabilities to reach their full potential. I have not visited many of Solas's further and higher education colleges but if they are all like Ballyfermot College of Further Education they are doing a brilliant job. It is about financial support and getting workers in there because it is not just about concrete it is about the support.

How can we support people with disabilities to take discrimination cases against employers? If someone is discriminated against in a shop or is attacked because of their disability how do we protect them? I know for the Traveller community if we experience racism, discrimination or are refused entry to a public place we go through the Workplace Relations Commission. Is it the same for people with disabilities? If a person with a disability is refused access or entrance into a public place such as a pub or club does he or she have to go through the Workplace Relations Commission? It does not support people who have experienced discrimination or hatred or have been denied access to services. I know the Workplace Relations Commission relates to employment but while the representatives are here it is an important question to ask.

How can we really bring about meaningful change for disabled people in this country and move beyond packing shelves and the attitude of "Aren't we a great organisation, we have a person with a disability working with us"? How do we support people with dyslexia who are working as public servants? A lot of the time someone could be well able for the job but face obstacles such as with technology or not being able to read or write like their colleagues. How do we support them to be successful in employment?

I know other Deputies and Senators referred to a lot of statistics and whatnot.

For me, people may have disabilities but you see the person first. We should be able to support people to get employment. The situation for disabled people is similar to that of the Traveller community in that we get people through the education system but we do not see them working. When I say people with disabilities I mean wheelchair users and young adults with Down's syndrome or autism. These people are well able to work in, say, a solicitor's office or as a secretary. How can we ensure people have opportunities to reach their full potential? If the witnesses cannot answer all my questions or respond to my comments now, I ask them to do so by email.