Mr. Leo Kavanagh:

I send my congratulations to Deputy Murnane O'Connor and Carlow on the victory in the McDonagh Cup last Saturday. I wonder if that has anything to do with the Deputy's hoarse voice. We will not go there. I digress.

The Deputy asked about discrimination. The worst form of discrimination is when the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth refuses to meet with DPOs. We have been looking for a meeting with the Department's senior civil servants for well over a year. My most recent request was via email and included a read receipt. Three of the senior civil servants read that email but I received no reply. What is going on in the Department? At best, it is insulting. I would not use the expressions in this public forum that I would like to use when considering that lack of response at its worst. I am sure it is not the case in Australia that the Department which caters for people with disabilities ignores them and their rights. Would that be correct?