Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. I will take the first part of his question. I thank him for his comments. We look forward to working with the Deputy’s own committee with regard to advancing these issues.

The point the Deputy made on attitude is very important. I spoke briefly earlier about the PDS roadmap and trying to reset the engagement between the HSE, service providers and parents. A number of Deputies have raised some of the written correspondence. When bad news is being delivered, it can be delivered in a certain way. We need to recognise that, rather than just having an approach of ”the computer says no". We recognise that not every communication will be a positive one, but how it is delivered is important. That goes all the way from PDS to the overall approach to disability issues.

We considered the most extreme element of this spectrum earlier in the Dáil when we voted on the hate crime legislation. We know that persons with disabilities suffer and are victims of crimes on the basis of their disability. This is on the far end of the spectrum the Deputy is talking about, but it is a spectrum. It is about how we as a society talk about and treat persons with a disability. We said earlier that one of the central elements of the Department's role is to ensure that disability is not seen as a medical issue, which it has been for too long. It should be seen as a societal issue where all elements of disability are understood.

My final point of that attitudinal piece is that there has to be a change across Government and the State. Even though this Department has specific responsibility for disability, responsibility for meeting the diverse needs of persons with disability remains with every single Department. The Department of Transport has a responsibility with respect to disability, as do the Departments of Education and Social Protection. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I will be very clear in looking for the support of Deputy Moynihan's committee on this because we have a responsibility now. Other Departments retain their responsibility for what they are doing. Our Department cannot deliver transport services or EmployAbility services. Other Departments and other parts of the State must step up to recognise all of the obligations, commitments and rights under the UNCRPD to which we, as a country, have signed up.