Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with much of Senator Dolan's contribution and it is particularly telling that he said transport is a daily grind for people with disabilities. It is a very fair point and we should bear in mind the obstacles and difficulties that disabled people have to endure. They can be difficult to relate to unless they are repeated again and again, ensuring that the people who make decisions are aware of them. Whatever we achieve in trying to make transport accessibility equal for everybody, there will always be difficulties for people in wheelchairs and they will never have the same carefree attitude to travelling as others without disabilities. I take the Senator's point in that respect.

Senator Dolan mentioned the accountability of many of the bodies relevant to the strategy and the complementary role of this committee. It is fair to say the committee has played a very important role and it is a very good exercise in parliamentary accountability. Senator Dolan, Deputies Catherine Murphy, O'Keeffe and O'Dowd and everybody else involved with this exercise should set this as a template. It is difficult to fit in but it is a good idea that something as important as this should be reported on by a Minister every six months.

It is also good for the officials. It is good for Deputies and means that the gaps in areas where we would not want to have them are exposed every six months until they are closed. Whereas I think this is a good report and a big step change in the attitude to disabilities, there are things that still have to be done. They are in front of us. The good things are fantastic and tremendously important and I am not claiming any credit for them. Senator Dolan should take the credit. The Chairman referred to Ciarán Delaney. He is a phenomenal and relentless advocate for people with disabilities. The idea that we do this every six months is useful. It is a template for others and a useful parliamentary exercise.

The Senator is right about the problem associated with the livery. As far as I know, it was remedied. It should not have happened. It emphasises the fact that sometimes people do not think in a sympathetic way or are not as knowledgeable as they should be. It was changed because the disability groups were loud and had voices to express the difficulties encountered owing to an oversight by the National Transport Authority. I understand the Senator does not think it has bought into it.