John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. However, while the issues I listed were new responsibilities, Commissioner Oettinger also referred to existing responsibilities. The European Union has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is important to remember that both the EU and UN were born out of the Second World War. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights dates back to 1948, yet 60 years later, the UN was forced to point out that its members, which include all EU member states, had not viewed people with disabilities as among the human beings who should have their rights advanced. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a statement, 60 years after the universal declaration, that is necessary to insert a "how to do" mechanism, as it were, to ensure people with disabilities can board trains, go to school and find jobs. This is a serious international issue.

Commissioner Oettinger referred to the Holocaust. We remember the awful fate of 6 million Jews. Some 300,000 people with disabilities were murdered by the Nazi regime, many of whom were German. No laws were introduced at Nuremberg to make that possible. The point I am making is that the humanity of people with disabilities is not viewed as being as strong as that of others.

There needs to be a commitment through the protection of - the holding of the line - and improving supports for people with disabilities in the period ahead if ratification of the UN convention is to mean anything.