Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to say a few words. I welcome the Bill and Deputy McCarthy's initiative in introducing it. I also welcome the Minister's approach, in that he intends to accept the Bill and consider it further.

Now that we have the new process whereby Bills can be introduced by Government backbenchers and Opposition Deputies, it should be used more. If we are to be a legislative house, legislation should not come from Departments alone. I urge the Government to do more to work with the Opposition on some of the latter's proposals. It is a two-way street, though, as the Opposition must table legislation that has a chance of moving forward.

While in opposition, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, successfully introduced progressive legislation with Government support. A reform of the family law system, it has withstood the test of time. In a previous Government, the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael McDowell, accepted legislation from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, who was then in opposition, on a matter that had been brought to the latter's attention by constituents.

I agree with Deputy Durkan. As legislators, we legislate because we are informed by our constituents. We empathise with them through our constituency work, enabling us to bring something to bear when legislation is discussed. It is time that we started to stand up for our important constituency work. We are not academics. We are representatives of our constituents to the Dáil.

I am Chairman of the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, which has been examining the Finnish education system. Finland performs well in international tests on literacy, numeracy and so on. A major factor seems to be the fact that there is a high degree of equality in its education system. Finnish politicians and people involved in that system constantly use the words "equality" and "equity".

Finland has taken a proactive approach to special needs. There is considerable autonomy at local level and within schools in terms of how they organise the curriculum. Finland attaches significant importance to the question of special needs. Its approach is underpinned by legislation. If people have special needs, they are identified and are provided with various levels of support, including plans for the students concerned. This support might comprise a short-term, intensive intervention or a longer term approach.

This reminds me of my time on the Oireachtas education committee some years ago when the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 was being introduced. It was intended to be similar to the Finnish approach, but it has not worked out that way in practice. We still have much to do. This Bill could be a part of that work on enhancing the nature of education to ensure that it is pupil-centric, concerned with pupils' needs and ensures that all students have equal opportunities.

I welcome the Bill and hope that it form the basis for a better approach to providing education and other supports to people with autism.

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