Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The interim scheme was an extraordinary decision. It was something that had already been found to be inadequate after the UNCRPD was ratified. Will the witnesses comment on this? It strikes me that the six criteria laid out had come from a very paternalistic and narrow interpretation of disability and the needs of persons with disabilities. The witnesses have spoken about this. While I understand the State has a number of failings in a number of areas, and we know it failed in terms of the contracting of public transport to private operators, nobody doubts there are multiple issues to be addressed. Effectively, it cemented the same criteria again, albeit in interim measures. Was a different interim scheme possible? If Minister had engaged with the witnesses do they believe a good interim scheme could have been put in place, and remained until the wider review being spoken about was completed, which would have been at least not incompatible with the UNCRPD?