Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I support Deputy Stanton's contention regarding the restrictive nature of the legislation. We discussed this issue on Committee Stage and we will discuss it again. One cannot nod one's head and say it is fine and we will live with it. Unfortunately, the people who need this legislation to live a full life depend on us to highlight issues such as this. The restrictiveness is evident in the Long Title which outlines the Bill's intention. We cannot continue to put legislation of this nature in place. The Bill will end up in the very place the Minister of State keeps telling us he does not want it to end up. On the Order of Business earlier, the issue flawed legislation that needs to be amended was again raised. We have been telling the Minister of State for the past six months that this legislation is wrong and that it needs to be scrapped and rewritten but he still will not listen to us.

The Long Title is important because it indicates what the Bill is meant to do. However, it contains a restriction. The Long Title is the essence of the legislation and points out at first glance what it is about. In this instance, it highlights that this is restrictive legislation, which will not do what people the Minister of State consulted for two solid years felt it would do. Their frustration and dismay is now palpable when one talks to them. They throw their hands up and ask what more they can do. However, I am sure they will find the energy again, they will come back and we will, at some stage in the future, have legislation that gives people with disabilities the right to services and not just the right to assessment.

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