Ms Jacqui Browne:

Following on from many of the points made by IHREC, which are very helpful, it is so important, and I understand we are speaking by and large about a particular responsibility, to understand there is a vast amount of research going on, especially in the university sector. Part of the standing and credibility of every university in this country is based on its research work and on the funding it can attract. I would very much like to see if the committee would call for disability-proofing of any funding that is afforded to any research institutions to ensure the research is of high integrity and that it reflects the human rights model of disability, particularly when it comes to any research related to disability.

A great deal of work is being carried out, and sometimes one would have to question the basis and foundation upon which some of this work is being carried out and whether disabled people have even been involved in this research. There is a great deal more work happening in the health and social care area on what is known as public and patient involvement initiatives. That is a model that can be replicated throughout the country in other research and higher level institutions. I am including the medical research institutions in that together with the Health Research Board.

Disability permeates the entirety of our lives as we are not just neatly boxed off into little areas. That is something we highlight and bring to the attention of the committee for its own report, when it is drafting it.