Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept the allegations of a delay. There is no plot to delay the Bill. There is real work taking place across a range of Departments to deliver two Bills — the disability Bill and the Comhairle (amendment) Bill — and six draft sectoral plans. The issues involved are complex and cut across a broad range of policy areas. The Bill remains a Government priority and it will be published as soon as the Government and the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion have completed their work.

Ireland has a strong record in recent years in the area of disability equality. On equality and mainstream service provision, our administrative and legislative provisions compare well with the best European practice. This is evidenced in the European Commission's multiannual action plan, which supports the legitimate demands for equal rights of people with disabilities, especially in employment. The action plan also focuses on the mainstreaming of services for people with disabilities. The EU Commission has indicated that the major priority for the enlarged EU should be the implementation of the employment equality directives in all member states. These two key future objectives of the enlarged EU regarding disability are already law and practice in this country for some years.

The awareness of our population regarding people with disabilities and their right to equality is ahead of that in other European countries and other common law countries. The challenge we as legislators face is to put in place a well-focused, practical framework to enhance service delivery to people with disabilities. I have no doubt the proposed disability Bill will again show this country can be among the most progressive in Europe when it comes to establishing a statutory basis for assessment, service provision and the infrastructure for the effective delivery of those key services. I commend the Government amendment to the House.

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