Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The rights range across the spectrum, but there is not a justiciable right of redress to the courts. Deputy Lynch has been eloquent on this issue but even if justiciable rights were included in the Bill, that would not guarantee a right to services, as she has claimed. The experience of the Department of Education and Science in the courts is ample evidence of that. Every €1 paid out to people who have gone to the courts has cost €4 paid to lawyers. I do not accept that is in the best interest of people with disabilities and neither do I accept that justiciable rights will give people with disabilities their proper services. I am quite satisfied that the balance in this Bill, as outlined in the Long Title, is the best way to give people with disabilities their rights.

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