Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I greatly appreciate the support the Government receives from Independent Deputies. The Government will work with them as best it can to deliver its programme for Government, which incorporates many of the issues of interest to them. Like the other Deputies who support the Government, Deputy McGrath has indicated clearly to it — and I have agreed with him- the issues on which we are trying to achieve progress. In fairness, Deputy McGrath, is a strong advocate in the field of disabilities. His most pressing issue concerns the support of issues regarding disabilities and autism. Rather than concentrating on individual issues, he wishes to see development on an agenda in which he strongly believes. This does not simply pertain to his constituency because most of the schemes in question are national in scope.

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