Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let me expand a little on what I shared with members earlier and which Deputy Chambers confirmed. Last week, the select committee dealt with Committee Stage of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016. The Chairman of a committee is often given a direction to disallow certain amendments tabled by Opposition Members when, in the opinion of the Bills Office, the passage of those amendments could constitute an additional charge on the Exchequer. Let us recall what the Bill we discussed last week was about, namely, miscellaneous provisions in the area of disability. The first amendment on which I received a direction to refuse to allow debate was to include in the Bill a provision that all polling stations be wheelchair accessible. I heard the words "democratic" and "anti-democratic" used, but the fundamental aspect of democracy is the right of all citizens to be able to exercise their franchise. I was being directed to refuse an amendment on the basis that if any of the facilities currently employed did not have wheelchair access, it could mean having to find an alternative that would cost more or having to put in wheelchair ramps at schools, halls or other facilities. My view, as Chairman, is that the utilisation of a school or any of these other facilities once in five years is not the basis for requiring it to be wheelchair accessible. It just damn well should be - full stop and end of story. I could be in a big bucket of hot water over all of this but that is the position that we took. I thank the members of this committee who stood by me in making my judgment in the matter last week. Deputy Jack Chambers has talked about interpretation. I have shared that example to show how bizarre interpretation can be at times.