Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I totally disagree with many of the arguments the Senator put forward. I am well aware of the issues in the disability sector, as the Senator well knows. I have been involved in disability rights for the past 25 years. I know about the poverty and the exclusion. I know the details. I have spent the past six months meeting all the families again. I have a strong record in that area. This is not pie in the sky. I do not accept that, and I do not accept that I or any politicians in government are dragging their feet on this issue. I totally disagree with that argument. As far as I am concerned, I am getting great support at Government and Cabinet levels. At backbench level and across the Dáil, including from members in this room, I am getting great support to push for the delivery of services for people with disabilities.

As to why this has not been done, I do not believe there is any hidden political reason for it. Changing a system and implementing change takes time. The Senator will see those changes shortly. I will not accept responsibility for the inactions of previous Governments.

I have been Minister of State for only six months. I accept I was naive to have set a target of six months in respect of the ratification of the convention but I ask that members judge me in time. This is provided for in the programme for Government and I am determined that it will be done. It is a top priority for me.

In the meantime - this is where I disagree profoundly with Senator Dolan - I am doing my best to ensure that people with disabilities get the services. Yesterday was a historic day in Cabinet in terms of the €10 million secured in the 2017 budget to enable all children who qualify for the domiciliary care allowance to be given medical cards. Three months into my tenure I secured an additional €31 million for emergency residential supports. Within four months, I had established a task force, which is working very hard. We have managed to secure €20 million per annum from the HSE to take people out of congregated settings, thereby ending the type of exclusion about which Senator Dolan has spoken. This is being done with the agreement and support of families.

I am also working hard on other issues. Approximately €2 million has been secured for pre-activation supports for people with disabilities and social protection benefits, such as carer's allowance, disability allowance, blind person's allowance, widow's allowance, lone-parent allowance and jobseeker's benefit, are to increase by €5 per week. I went into the talks looking for more but, ultimately, I was happy to I walk away with something rather than nothing in my pocket. I accept that there is much work to be done regarding children and adult disability services. That work has commenced. As I said earlier, people should judge me on the basis of the number of policies I have managed to implement during my first few months in office. I accept that Senator Dolan is disappointed. However, as I said earlier, ratification of the convention is a political priority for me. There are no political reasons that this has been held up. The delay is due to complex legislative issues. We will do our best to ensure that this legislation is top-class and implemented.