Mr. Padraic Moran:

I was asked about the optional protocol. Only 650,000 people in Ireland are registered as having disabilities. As such, we do not have the numbers where we can go out and make a difference. When I was in London in 2012, four people were in Leinster House because there was a danger of the disability allowance and services being changed while we were competing over there. Bringing in the optional protocol would provide people with disabilities with a greater input into society. In my experience working in media, not only am I qualified to do it, but I must prove physically that I can do a piece to camera or record a live piece for radio. It is not a question of being qualified, the question is asked whether if one is disabled one can do it. There is a constant battle because there is still a very bad stigma.

I have been very lucky to have been able to compete in so many countries around the world through my sport because I have seen what can be achieved. Brussels is pretty good, as is most of Europe. Some places are not so good and I know that we are trying to get there. Ultimately, if we do not act on what we are discussing today, we will end up going around the houses again and again. It is very important to ensure that services are not whipped away from people like me. I have to pay €100 per month with the annual tax-saver ticket, which takes away eight hours of PA services that I could do with. It is great that we are having meetings, but we need people to act on this. We need people with disabilities to feel that they are valued as Irish citizens in society. There is no point in doing this, saying the presentations were great and noting how striking it is that certain things have been lost if none of it is acted on. Without action, we will be sitting here in ten or 15 years to do the exact same thing again.