Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I disagree with the Minister of State over the word "adequate". It is a subjective word because who is to say that something is adequate? The disability organisations have a clear view that the legislation is not adequate in this regard and they have serious ongoing concerns about it. One way around this issue is to have advocates for disability with regard to all such plans. The amendment seeks that due consideration should be given to include third party consultation on all major public developments. This is a broad issue and the people who would advocate on behalf of the disabled should be consulted as part of the process as a right. Many people, including ourselves, make decisions relating to disability and we should be required to consult advocates, though I know it is not possible to write to the disability federations for their views in every case. Every local authority should have disability officers who would have an input in these issues and would be sole advocates for disabled and elderly people who have the same capacity as all of us. The use of the word adequate is what concerns me.

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