Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In these Houses all of us pledge allegiance to the 1916 Proclamation that hangs in the foyer. Therefore, we believe in a republic - a new republic - one where all citizens are equal, regardless of the colour of their skin, disability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, where they live or what they do.

Creating the conditions for establishing an equal society means recognising that many diverse groups and sections of society need enhanced protection from the State. In my time in the Dáil, and for a number of years before I was elected, I have witnessed cut after cut to those living with disabilities and those who love them and care for them.

A total of 26 disability organisations saw their funding, through the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, run by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, revoked on 30 June. That is disgraceful. Our citizens deserve better. The Government must restore €1.2 million in funding lost to disability organisations.

I echo some of the comments made by the Disability Federation of Ireland today. It expressed concern that the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has responsibility for implementing the national disability strategy, was apparently not aware of the serious cut implemented by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. It also expressed concern that the Minister of State no longer comes under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality and that there might be a disconnect between her disability and equality portfolios. The Government must be aware of that. I have no doubt the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, will examine the matter.

The Disability Federation of Ireland has also asked that the Government consider the appointment of a senior Minister for disability inclusion. Having just completed a reshuffle and rearranged some ministerial portfolios I do not assume the Government will do that immediately but in the absence of such a change I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, to examine the issue. There is ongoing concern on the matter among the disability community.

I urge him also to secure a commitment from the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, his party colleague and deputy leader, to overturn the cuts and restore funding to those important organisations. They are providing critical front-line service to people who are most in need of them. We must do the right thing by disabled citizens.

I have said it before in this House and I will say it again tonight, that we need a "threshold of decency" on disability supports and a political consensus that people with disabilities would have their dignity and rights maintained and that their families would not be abandoned as a result of ongoing cutbacks. We will not allow those with disabilities and their carers and families to endure cutbacks.

I remind Members of this House of the imagery from 2012 of citizens with profound disabilities protesting outside Leinster House at the cuts imposed by the then Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and how that struck a chord with people. The courage and dignity of those who braved the elements to make their stand shone a light on the reality. The Government has proceeded to enforce cut after cut on those with disabilities in this State, and their families and carers. Their broken promises on disabilities are the cruellest of all.

The previous Government cut the disability allowance, carer's allowance and carer's benefit, and the blind person's allowance, not once but twice. The removal of the Christmas double payments also heavily impacted on the disabled and their families and carers. As a result, the Government cut the income of disabled people and their carers by 10% over two budgets.

In my time as a Member of this House, and also previously as a councillor, I have engaged more with adults and children who have disabilities and that has been a real eye-opener for me. Life is hard but it is even harder for some of those people and their families. It is not just difficult for those with a disability; it is incredibly difficult for their loved ones around them. It is physically hard and emotionally draining. They are at the coalface. They are the ones who campaign day in and day out in their own ways for their loved ones to have the same standard of living as they have.

Many of the speakers last night pointed out that it is also financially difficult for people with disabilities. We know that half of those with disabilities experience income poverty and more than one third experience basic deprivation. Since 2008, the sector has faced a 14% cut imposed by the Government.

I would like the Minister of State to inform me why Ireland has not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Surely that should have been done some time ago as we signed the convention in March 2007. Could he please tell me the reason for the delay? Could he also indicate when the Government will do the decent thing and introduce equality budgeting? In July 2013 Sinn Féin introduced the Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013. The Bill sought to amend the existing legislation and aimed to provide for equality proofing of Government policy and budgets and public bodies through impact assessments. Had the Bill been accepted and passed, it would have ensured that both the Government and public bodies in exercising their functions would do so in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socioeconomic disadvantage. The Bill recognises those additional sectors of society which require enhanced protection from the State in relation to policy and spending decisions.

We all know that times are hard in this country but what some of us fail to recognise is just how difficult they are for some of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. The Government came to office on a wave of promises in 2011 but soon afterwards it became apparent that many of its plans involved taking from some of the most vulnerable. Often, in order to create true equality we have to put the mechanisms in place to ensure that happens. This is one of those times. By using equality budgeting, we would ensure equality is placed well and truly at the centre of any decisions concerning public expenditure and income.

Equality budgeting has been internationally accepted as a means to deal effectively with inequality and poverty. Worldwide, more than 60 countries have adopted or are working towards equality budgeting. The time has come for Ireland to follow suit, to make a stand and provide a more just and equitable society for all. It is our duty as republicans - Sinn Féin does not claim ownership of the description "republican". Everyone who pledges allegiance to the 1916 Proclamation, and believes in the values and principles inherent in it, is a republican. All of us who are republicans have a responsibility to consider equality budgeting.

I endorse the vision for people with disabilities from the Disability Federation of Ireland. It called on the Government to take urgent action on three key areas. First, it urged the Government to halt reductions in the basic standard of living of people with disabilities requiring welfare supports. People with disabilities are most likely to experience real poverty because on top of the recent cuts in benefit levels and new charges, they also have to continue to pay for extras required due to their disability.

Second, the Government must ensure funding for the services needed by people with disabilities. Cutting the services required by people with disabilities not only undermines their lives, it also leads to a growing public burden in terms of hospital stays and expensive care costs.

Third, the Government must publish and show leadership on an ambitious implementation plan for the national disability strategy in keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, where people have dignity, individual autonomy and full and effective participation in Irish society.

That is the vision and the achievable goals the organisation has set out. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, believes in equality and is committed to it. I wish him well in his new brief. I will work constructively with him to achieve the goals we share.

I commend Deputy Finian McGrath on bringing forward this motion, which we will support.

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