John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner. I started out life as a pig farmer but for almost 40 years I have had a disability. I will change tack slightly to rural development, which comes under his remit, and growth, jobs, smart villages and unemployment, which is a huge issue for people with disabilities. There are 80 million people with disabilities throughout the EU and when their families are included, the number of people affected trebles. A fair share of them are in farm families while many older farmers are not on the fit to play list. There are many issues relating to disability, chronic illness and so on. What is happening, particularly within the rural development remit, to support people with disabilities and their families throughout rural Europe?

The EU ratified the UN convention in 2010. Ireland the had the honour of coming in last on ratification but we will be first off the blocks now. Every member state has ratified the convention, with many of them having done so for a number of years. The Commissioner referred to demands for new commitments. This commitment was made a number of years ago by member states and the EU. Will the Commissioner make a brief statement on that?

The Commissioner has a slew of colleagues at Commission level. I have engaged with two of them before Oireachtas committees and I found them to be shy when it came to issues affecting people with disabilities under their remits. If he could keep an eye out for them generally, it would be well appreciated.