Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a question. When will the mental capacity Bill - to be renamed the assisted decision-making Bill - become law? Can we have a debate on that legislation? Until Ireland signs up to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities I see nothing but neglected children and adults who are lost and forgotten. Families are giving up so much, including incomes. They are falling behind in mortgage payments because they have to give up income in order to cope. After all the pushing, we get a little improvement and we are meant to be grateful. I say "No thanks", however, because these people deserve their rights. It is the least they can expect. One never misses a right until one requires it. These people have basic needs. I would be grateful if we could consider our intellectually disabled and people with other disabilities, including young children, and have such a debate here during this term.