Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for being with us to discuss this important issue. Ms Carthy summed up the situation in her closing remarks about how many failings there currently are in access to polling stations and access to adequate public transport. This committee has discussed those issues again and again. She also mentioned access to education, employment and personal assistant services, which we have also talked about again and again at this committee. Unless that whole package is there and fully accessible, we are putting more barriers in front of people when it comes to active participation in the political system. That is regrettable.

In his contribution, Mr. O'Leary talked about the 174 Deputies. I was struck by his asking how many of those will be people who themselves have a disability. Mr. Dolan and Ms Carthy have summed it up. This is not just about having the voices of people with disabilities at committees such as this to share their lived experience. It is about having them at the decision-making table. That is where change really and truly happens.

I am lucky that in my local electoral area, Sikandar Jahanzab has put himself forward as a candidate for the local elections. He has a disability. He also has a thirst for driving change. He is determined when it comes to improving life and advocacy. He has a hunger, which was the phrase Mr. Dolan used, for political participation. It is more difficult for him than it is for others who are standing. That is the reality. He has physical challenges to overcome as well as all of the challenges that any candidate has.

Accessibility at polling stations drives me nuts. I cannot believe we are still talking about the issue. Is there a list of inaccessible polling stations that we, as a committee, could supply to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and demand action on? That is a clear impediment to people with disabilities being able to exercise their democratic right to vote. It is an issue that came up in my constituency many years ago. That it is still happening in certain areas is wrong.

Mr. O'Leary said that postal voting was unnecessarily complicated. I will ask for a bit of information in that regard. I know we have a postal vote system and I know it is only used in certain circumstances but I am not familiar with the logistics as to how someone can request a postal vote. It is obviously not something we want to push. We do not want to encourage people to avail of it. However, that option should be there. It should be something that people with disabilities can avail of if they so choose.

I thank Mr. Dolan for everything he is doing not just at an Irish level but also at an international level. He eloquently articulated that today in his references to the EDF, IDA Ireland and the European Economic and Social Council. I thank him for all the great work he is doing. We are looking for ways to help him and progress this. I think Mr. O'Leary said there are eight potential electoral occasions coming up. I could only think of six.

I can only come up with local, European, presidential and general elections, a referendum and a plebiscite. What are we missing?