Dr. Aideen Hartney:

The Senator has named it in "co-creation". The development of the forthcoming strategy was an example of how that could be done well, with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality doing some very intensive work with disabled persons’ organisations, DPOs, which are the representative bodies for disabled people, to develop the strategy. The Department went on quite a learning journey as to how that would be done, with engagement and negotiation of priorities. That is a good model from which other Departments can learn.

Following the advice about the person being brought along and engaged with to help identify his or her choices, will and preference, and negotiating what is possible between both fields is something we are in the early stages at in the public sector in Ireland. The negotiation of this strategy is an example that can be followed and built on.