Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I have no assurance from the responses given so far by the Taoiseach that there is within his Department a policy of affirmative action in relation to people with disability. Does he accept that a statement of voluntary disclosure, which happens to show a level above the quotient applying with regard to the employment of people with disabilities, in no way assuages the fears of this Deputy or other people that there is not a proactive approach to facilitating people with disabilities accessing employment in Departments, specifically the Taoiseach's Department, and the broader Civil Service? I will not engage in a heated exchange with the Taoiseach on this matter. However, I invite him to put the record straight. Is there such a programme in place and, if so, does he project that people with disabilities will be considered for vacancies arising in his Department?

There must be certainty about this matter. It cannot be a case of adopting a hit and miss approach and inquiring after the fact, by means of voluntary disclosure, whether a person has a disability. There is a requirement on all Departments to ensure that a certain percentage of their staff have specified disabilities.

I welcome the Taoiseach's response, on the record, to the effect that remarks made by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy McGuinness, were personal in nature and do not represent the views of the Government. When the Minister of State made his remarks, I was of the opinion that they reflected the usual confusion among members of Fianna Fáil who see the Civil Service as an appendage of their party. The Minister of State was clearly only referring to Fianna Fáil.

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