Mr. Padraic Moran:

With regard to the medical card, there is a very simple thing there. Irrespective of whether someone works, if they have a long-term disability since birth and it is not going to go away, the card should just stay with them. It should not be about one person earning this much or someone else that much. As I mentioned, there are associated costs such as having to get wheelchair taxis. They are more expensive because they know they can get away with it because you cannot use anything else. It is a very simple fix. The medical card should be left with the person irrespective but we should possibly look at why it is all under the Department of Social Protection. It is not one size fits all anymore. We have moved on since the 1950s and 1960s. It is no longer one size fits all. People with disabilities are encouraged to gain employment. For me, the HSE said that since I was part-time, I would keep all my benefits. I do not want to work part-time. I want to work full-time. I want to be able to go on holidays and do nice things, but the system is set up to disable. It is not there to enable people. That is part of the problem.

There has been talk about quotas. Yes, let us do that. It is not that we should have a discussion about it. It should just be something that can be done in a week. It does not need to be legislated for. It should be done in all parties. They should look at this and pick a quota because it is good to have people with lived experience. I was on the board of Sport Ireland and I was able to make a much more meaningful impact on disability in sport because I was on that board. I was able to explain different things. If there are people in the political parties working within that area, they are going to get a lot more insight.

It is great we get this opportunity but we are all comfortable talking about the challenges we face. Other people are not. Other people do not have a voice because they are not given a chance to have a voice so we end up having to do it for them. I do not mind doing that. I did consider going into politics a few times but then I realised there was no point because nothing changes. Everyone makes undertakings and says this will change but it is going to take time. They should not be saying "it takes time" in 2023. They should be saying it is now done. These committees have been meeting for a long time and they have been hearing about the same issues. We are making the same points. The committee members will go back to their parties and make these points but what is changing? Unfortunately, at times it is lip service. That is something that has to change.