Mr. John Dolan:

There is one absolute linchpin focal point that is now available to the Oireachtas, namely, the commitment to establish an Oireachtas joint committee on the implementation and monitoring of the UN convention. We have for the first time a full Minister with responsibility for disability. The Chairman has just picked up on the importance of having that Minister come to the committee and of making sure that the decision the Dáil made two years ago to ratify the convention is put front and centre in all of Ireland's plans. Deputy O'Dowd and I did a lot of work on the transport committee and that is one area. Other areas are housing, employment and education. There are a whole range of them. The Spanish Parliament may also have some kind of mechanism, but I think Ireland is the only Parliament in the EU that now has this opportunity agreed to in the programme for Government.

It is really important that it is taken and that this becomes a focal point for all Members of the Oireachtas, all the various interest groups, people with disabilities, their organisations and so on. They must drive it.

Members of the Oireachtas have spoken this morning about issues relating to different Departments. They will all sit on committees of one kind or another. I appeal to them to keep the flag flying in those committees for the inclusion of people with disabilities. The articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities contain very plain language about what must be achieved. This must be kept front and centre in every Oireachtas committee.