Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the panel for coming this morning. I am blown away by so many of the testimonies. I sit here week in week out and then some weeks people come in front of us and wind me, if they know what I mean.

I thank Mr. Alford for coming in here and telling us his entire life story in a nutshell, eloquently and passionately, and advocating for people and standing up and being a really valuable member of Inclusion Ireland. I have learnt so much. I was in tears listening to him. His testimony was incredibly powerful.

If we recorded Mr. Alford and put what he said out to every school in the country, we would be doing a service to all our young people. They would be able to hear the lived experience and it would make them think in a completely different way about the value and the contribution. They would see that it is all about the ability. It would be a complete education for our young people. I am going to play the recording of the meeting for my children later, because it is really important that they understand. I could never articulate it in that way, so I thank Mr. Alford for doing so.

Mr. Alford talked about moving from a congregated setting and his first real job, his first real home and his independence. What about the support we all need when we move into our first jobs and our first homes? I remember ringing my mother when I was at college in Galway to get her advice. None of us is an island. Some of us need a little more help than others. Whether people have disabilities or not, they all in lots of different ways. Where was the support for Mr. Alford and how can this committee advocate to help him and others so we can ensure those supports are in the community and people know where to go? The advocacy service is here as well but how can we support that? When someone wants to move on or is trying to do so, how can they be their best advocate? Nobody can advocate for someone better than they can themselves.

I have a question for DFI but I would like to hear from Mr. Alford first, if that is okay.