Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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I commend Councillor Bailey on her contribution and on mentioning so much of her personal experience. I can relate to an awful lot of what she included in her contribution about her experience, not only because my youngest daughter is also called Carly. The councillor spoke about structural violence and I admit that it does provoke a strong response, only because I know it to be true. I have first-hand experience of the frustration of having to wait an unacceptably long time for an assessment of needs for one of my children. I know only too well how challenging that experience is.

I faced many challenges in going from the dole to the Dáil and navigating through that first year, in particular. Councillor Bailey has managed to secure a position in the public sphere. I know first-hand what an uphill battle that must have been. Does she think there is political will to implement something like the quota system that was mentioned? I am excited about that idea. Does the councillor believe that needs to be mandated across all parties and legislated for or should individual parties define their own inclusion strategies? Does she believe there is a gap that local authorities should be filling in terms of the UNCRPD and its implementation? I think we can all agree that since Ireland signed the convention in 2006, progress has been painfully slow and has primarily centred around the capital. Does Councillor Bailey believe that local county and council-based work could expedite the protections and rights enumerated in the convention coming to fruition?