Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and I will keep it short. I thank the commissioner for being here today. A lot has been covered so I will not rehash it. Reference was made to school and education, but apprenticeships are vital. We have done a lot of work on this. We have spoken to developers to see how we can get people into apprenticeships and how to keep them in them. One developer suggested they be paid the third-year rate when they start so they can have a living wage and perhaps this would encourage them into it.

I wish to settle on the knock-on effect of substandard accommodation, substandard education, and substandard everything. Professor O'Flaherty referred to casual racism. There are very limited resources when it comes to mental health and nobody spoke about disabilities within the Travelling or Roma communities, which makes them totally alienated from society because there are no supports.

I am interested in the amount of work Professor O'Flaherty has done throughout his career, especially during the short few months in his current role at the Council of Europe, and how passionate he is about this. What is cool about this committee is there is no politics in it. We as a committee have engaged with so many people, and it has been an amazing journey. Professor O'Flaherty is right; the women always seem to be the strongest ones in this regard. When looking for experts, I always say not to go for psychologists or psychiatrists, but for the people who have lived those experiences. Has Professor O'Flaherty come across people who have a disability during his short time in his role? Surely, there must be zero services for them.

What he said about the tree and the plaque in the graveyard in Limerick is interesting, because we have a tree of hope in Leinster House in recognition of those who died by suicide. We also have one in Midleton. It is about getting acceptance, although maybe not normalising things because sometimes things such as war can be normalised and it is not a good idea. I am very interested in Professor O'Flaherty's take on the disabilities and mental health because mental health cuts across everything regarding this issue.