Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I wish to raise a number of points concerning the Minister's response to the amendments and specifically to amendment No. 2. He pointed out that such funding provisions are not in place in any other country and that if the Opposition was in power, it would not put such funding and resource provisions in place either. He referred specifically to the sections in the legislation which demand the right to services and funding.

However, we have an opportunity to do something different, to have a Disability Bill that is historic and held in high regard internationally. Given that this country claims to be interested in equality and social inclusion, this is an historic moment when we have the opportunity to translate this interest into action.

I become very annoyed when I hear statements asserting that the Department of Finance cannot write blank cheques to provide services for people with disabilities. Services, in this context, refer to respite, residential and day care for people with intellectual disabilities and broader services for those with other disabilities. However, there never seems to be a problem in providing public money for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. That Department paid €30 million for a site in north County Dublin that was worth €4 million. It also revamped a courthouse in Cork, the cost of which was estimated at €6.5 million, but the final bill was €26.5 million. One does not have to be a rocket scientist or an accountant to work out that €46 million was inappropriately used. Imagine the amount of disability services that could be provided with that amount of money. Imagine all of the respite, residential, day care services that could be provided. That money could have been used to fund the respite homes in north Dublin that are closing.

These are the real issues in the debate. When we use the term "rights" for people with disabilities, we do not do so lightly. We are talking about the rights of our citizens, both adults and children. This country has constantly been in conflict over the rights of its people, both historically and internationally. Amendment No. 1, in the name of Deputy Ó Snodaigh and amendment No. 2, tabled by Deputy Lynch and myself, are progressive attempts to improve the legislation. I urge the Minister to re-examine them and to be radical and creative.

There is an historic opportunity to do something really positive for people with intellectual and other disabilities. I pay deliberate attention to people with intellectual disabilities because they are priority cases. There are people with intellectual disabilities in their 40s and 50s, whose parents and extended families are dead, who are in very negative, if not sad, situations. We must, as proposed by amendment No. 2, guarantee and protect the rights of people with disabilities.

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