Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure. It is great that the commission is in place. I wish Mr. O’Leary the best of luck with it. It is good to hear his experience in the Australian Embassy. Best international experience has to inform what we do here also. I am pleased to hear that research can be commissioned and carried out into different areas. Definitely the electoral register, as has been mentioned, could be one area. There are always numerous problems but I believe research into participation and the barriers among those with disabilities and in other vulnerable categories would be worthy.

My blood boiled when I listened to Ms Carthy speak about her experience on the plane. To have educated, professional people using that type of degrading language is awful. Hearing that kind of disparaging language, that is not meant in a bad way, reminds me that we have a long way to go in society and in communities. People need to have a little bit of respect and cop on. I thank all the witnesses for what they have given us to date. As the witnesses may know, we had a public meeting almost two years ago with the disabilities stakeholders group who spoke about serious barriers when it comes to voting. I agree with Mr. Dolan’s views about the public act of voting. While on one hand there are people who do not bother to vote, when people are interested we want to encourage them to vote. It is important to be caught up in that electoral cycle and the election situation as regards watching debates before elections, seeing the posters and discussing the candidates. I have a brother with a disability. His vote is important to him, whether in a referendum or an election, and he gets so caught up and enthused about it. I know how important it is. Obviously it is important to have postal votes, but the same time we should do all we need to do.

I was on an electoral observation mission in Montenegro last May. That was the first time I had the opportunity to do that. I looked at the polling booths through the lens of disability in terms of what could be improved, and made my report based on that. They were not brilliant on accessibility, but quite good. As with Deputy Ellis I would have made that observation at home about wheelchair access to the booths and where the shelf is for writing. That is simply not good enough. I am glad the number has been reduced to 23. With regard to those 23, are specific notices sent out if we are aware that on the register there are people with difficulties? Unless a postal vote is noted beside the person’s name we may not be aware. How do we put something in place for people who just turn up at those 23 polling stations? That is important.

It is interesting to know that Saturday voting presents difficulties for those with personal assistants. The point is well made that many people have no personal assistant. I am pleased to hear about the changes in postal voting. That was always an issue, when they were removed without notice.

Standard training in disability awareness and equality for all returning officers is hugely important. Is that something the Electoral Commission will do, roll out and recommend? I mentioned the international practice to support inclusion for people with disabilities in voting. It is not even just the act of voting, it can be all the different fora where debates and meetings take place, to ensure there is access.

The witnesses could perhaps mention reasonable accommodations for blind and deaf voters and the measures needed to include for access.