Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am sorry I have a sore throat because I get angry when parents from my constituency have to go to court to get rights for their children. We have enough tribunals in this country and parents should not have to put their homes, families and livelihoods at stake to have their children educated. It is a disgrace. When the Government wants to change policy it can do it.

Deputy Devins said he is a Minister of State at four or five Departments. How can he have responsibility for disability when he works across every Department? There should be one Minister to deal with disability and he or she should have total responsibility and not be dependent on his colleagues.

I call on Fianna Fáil backbenchers and Green Party and Independent Deputies to support this motion. By doing so they will support the parents in the Visitors Gallery and their children, and will do a good job for the country. These people deserve to be supported. All they ask is a small amount of help and a right for their children for the future. That is not too much to ask of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party or the Progressive Democrats.

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