Ms Sinéad Gibney:

I thank Senator Seery Kearney for the question. The rates of employment for people with disabilities are shockingly low in Ireland. The 2008 European Commission report found that Ireland has one of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities in the EU at 26%, compared to 48% in the EU in 2017, and one of the highest gaps between people with and without disabilities of 45%. People are twice as likely to be in poverty and half as likely to be in work if they have a disability in this country.

I direct members towards Articles 19 and 27 of the CRPD in particular. I agree with Dr. McDonagh that if one embraces the CRPD and follows it to the letter, one will see a mindset shift in one's own approach. That is what is needed, namely, a move away from one-term exceptionalism where things have to be fixed towards a mindset whereby the inherent dignity and the independence of people with disabilities is respected and that universal application of rights is undertaken to allow everybody to contribute effectively to society, including those with disabilities.