Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 9, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following:

""persons with a disability" shall mean persons with a disability within the meaning of section 2 of the Disability Act 2005.".

These amendments relate to the issue of disability. There was an oversight related to homelessness in the Bill when it was first published. I have received representations from organisations on behalf of the disability sector. The Bill provides a very good opportunity to put in place legislation to give true recognition to the matter of disability. However, the absence of relevant measures is similar to the absence of addressing homelessness in an earlier draft and it should be corrected at this stage.

I realise the Minister is in discussions with disability groups but discussions continue on an ongoing basis and one should not draw a line at the end of discussions and suggest they will no longer continue, especially in the area of disability. The discussions are at a stage at which the amendments proposed are worthy of inclusion in the Bill. Any further consultation between the Minister of State and such groups may be examined another time and amendments may be put accordingly, as the Minister of State has indicated. Nevertheless, there is a clear opportunity this afternoon to address a deficiency within the Bill and for disability to be recognised. I call on the Minister of State to support the amendment.

See this speech in context