Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I am pleased to contribute on this important legislation. I am aware this meeting is being signed and I would like to use some sign language. My niece, Caitlin, who uses sign language sat me down last night and showed me how to do a little sign language. I want to use the following sign language to welcome the representatives of the deaf community to this meeting. That is important. As Mr. McGrath said earlier regarding integration and equality, we need to include everybody as much as possible in these meetings. I hope I did not let my niece down as I would be in trouble on that score if I did.

My first question is for Mr. McGrath. He mentioned he was calling for the Decision Support Service to write a new code of practice for people with disabilities and to explain what the law means to people like himself. Has he had any engagement to date with the DSS and, if so, what have been the benefits of that? His final sentence - "Nothing about us without us." - makes perfect sense to me.