Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Apologies for not being present in the room. I am going to the same meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage as Senator Seery Kearney and thought it easier to join and listen in only for the first hour.

I thank Dr. Hartney for her comments, in particular the need for a direct Ministry, which is not to overshadow in any way the fact we need this to be totally cross-departmental, that we need policies right across every Department to be disability proofed, and that it has to shine. That is core and central to the message Dr. Hartney has given us. As legislators and as political representatives of various parties and none, it is our job to make sure our political parties take that message on board. The disability-proofing of policies is a prime example of something that could be done in this area. Are there any other practical suggestions Dr. Hartney could give to us that we could take back to the various Departments we work with? For example, are there high-level strategy groups Dr. Hartney feels are lacking or is there anything from a practical perspective that would make that interdepartmental and cross-departmental communication on this issue more effective?