Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh:

First of all, before Covid-19 we were in a bad way. Many young people with disabilities have been confined in their homes. That is not a small thing in life. They are wasting away there. Lots of disabled children are still living segregated lives. We all know - at least I know as a Traveller - of the impact of segregated systems. It delays the potential of all of us as individuals. Again, if the UNCRPD and the optional protocol were operational, as the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, said they would be, all those things would change rapidly.