Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh:

With respect, I do not need a survey to tell people about the discrimination hundreds of disabled Irish people experience every day. If one looks at the statistics relating to employment, accommodation and independent living, there are the answers about the attitudes around disability. They are attitudes of stigma, shame and ableism. It is a bit unfair to suggest that we do not operationalise the optional protocol. At the moment, people's lives are at risk and we are not able to do anything. If one was more connected and heard the voices of people who have lived the reality of disability, they would not be slow in telling one how the attitudes are.