Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak and to share time with Deputy Joe McHugh.

I congratulate Deputy Finian McGrath on his journey in preparing and bringing the legislation to this stage. I have known Deputy McGrath for a number of years. Often times when we meet, our chat centres around the needs of disability and the needs of representative groups of disabilities. We have both been on that journey, as have many other Members, for many decades.

When the Constitution was written and adopted by the Irish people, no part of it excluded from education people with special needs, people with disabilities or people who have Down's syndrome. It is only right, therefore, that we should have arrived at this point in time. When I think of people with disabilities and I think of people with Down's syndrome, it is interesting that a considerable number of people from my constituency express not only interest but support for the Bill. I am happy to affirm that here today. I expect that is not unusual.

A friend of mine, a neighbour, whom I have known for most of her life, Maeve Phillips from Beechpark in Lucan, is one of those people who, when I meet her, and despite the responsibilities of being a Government Deputy, everything is forgotten. A smile comes to one's face immediately and then everything is put in perspective, not because she has Down's syndrome but because of the joy she brings. Maeve Phillips, for her young years, has something that I and Deputy McGrath and I suspect nobody here, will ever have, an Olympic gold medal. That reminds me of that very special year that was 2003 - more than ten years ago - when we celebrated what the movement wanted us to celebrate then, that word ability replacing disability. We saw that ability in Maeve Phillips and in so many other people.

I am reminded also of another person, who is not a constituent, Mark Smith. Until this morning when Deputy Paudie Coffey alluded to one of his constituents I thought Mark Smith was the first and only person attending third level education in Maynooth from Ballyfermot. Subject to him passing his examinations, hopefully in the near future, he will be the first person, that I know of, who has Down's syndrome with a degree, something I do not have. Again, it reminds me of that wonderful ability and joy, that people can overcome what we perceive to be disability.

I am delighted the Government has taken the legislation on board. Often that co-operation is not written about. I congratulate the Minister for taking that step and the Minister of State who is present. I am reminded of that because as a member of the Constitutional Convention many references were made to that at the Constitutional Convention last weekend. I cannot think of a better example of that co-operation than the willingness of everybody who was engaged on that journey that began with Deputy Finian McGrath and reaching this stage today and the support of the Government. That is very important. When legislation benefits a certain sector in society it benefits us all, not just the people who are enshrined in the legislation but we benefit as a people and as a society. I am very happy to support the legislation.

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