Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

So now I am in big trouble. My big sister's name is Marie. I am sorry, Marie. Naming her publicly should get me out of trouble. I have a few questions and for the last one, I want a show of hands. Deputy Murnane O'Connor, who represents Carlow-Kilkenny, told me at one of these meetings a couple of weeks ago that the train station in Carlow is not accessible and, therefore, people with disabilities cannot use it. If someone was told he or she could not use the train station because of his or her ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, people would quite rightly protest and a big deal would be made of it but because it is not accessible to people with disabilities, the powers-that-be - Irish Rail, Transport for Ireland and the Government - seem to accept this. Why do the witnesses think that is? Why do they think we accept discrimination against people with disabilities so casually?

Deputy Tully, who is a member of this committee, told me that the people who are left on waiting lists for housing are people with disabilities. Again, if someone was denied access to housing on the basis of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, people would quite rightly be very angry but when it comes to people with disabilities, who make up 27% of homeless people, the powers-that-be seem to accept it. Why do the witnesses think that is? Why is it okay for people with disabilities to be discriminated against?

The witnesses have given us loads of common-sense recommendations for different problems. What should we do about that? Is there anything we can do about it? They have been here and to a certain extent seen what we do. The last bit is a show of hands. The Chair will organise this. How many of the witnesses would like to come and work here either as a Senator or a Deputy?