Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Chairman's figure of "11" is pretty accurate on the first question. On the issue of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, it is very difficult to micromanage it. When we refer to the lived experience of disability, we are talking about getting as many people involved as possible. It includes people with disabilities as well as carers. I cannot micromanage that and tell the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission about some of its proposals, but the Chairman can take it that since I have taken over, it is about as many people as possible with lived experience of people with disabilities. In respect of the personalised budget issue, for example, I have many people on that committee who have a physical disability as well as many carers. For me, "lived experience of disability" refers to carers as well as people with disabilities themselves.