Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with my colleagues in congratulating Deputy Finian McGrath for once again bringing a serious problem, which gets neglected so often, to Members' attention. It is a problem that gets camouflaged by the kind of lip-service that often comes from Governments in situations where they are not prepared to do as much about something as they aspire to or have promised to do. I agree with all those who state quite simply that cuts to disability funding are unacceptable. It seems strange - I will not repeat the examples frequently quoted in this Chamber - that there could be expenditure on matters of some frivolity, while cutting back on those who are the most vulnerable in Ireland. This has been a consistent trend on the part of several Governments since the recession hit the country. While people have been prepared to line the pockets of their friends in lots of ways that are unacceptable, it is perceived that the disabled still are fair game for cuts.

I accept there is genuine consensus on all sides of this House that more should be done for the disabled. That is apparent in particular in the motion tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath but also in the words spoken by Members from all sides this evening. It also is apparent in the Government amendment. However, I cannot understand why the Government considered it necessary to amend this motion, which is moderate in its requirements, reasonable in its demands and I would have thought acceptable to any reasonable person, particularly in government, as well as being pretty cost-free. However, the Government responded by tabling a long-winded amendment in which it congratulated itself on a great many things it claims it has done. Moreover, in what to me are weasel words, it also refuses to take action in key areas. I will cite a couple of lines from it. It states it "recognises the central role which work plays in the lives of people with disabilities and is committed to the development of a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities". That means absolutely nothing as being committed to a comprehensive - a long, fairly meaningless word - employment strategy for people with disabilities means there is no action. It goes on to state the strategy "will be published this year, as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014". Publication is not action; publication is delay. Publication is something for which one waits and then decides on whether one will act or will then consult.

The point that I consider to be such a pity in this regard is that whereas there are genuine commitments to this, Members saw this particular commitment tested not long ago in an equally commendable Bill that was introduced by Deputy Finian McGrath and which was accepted by the Government in this Chamber on Second Stage. It now has been parked, presumably forever. It is no good to express one's agreement with a Bill only to park it somewhere, not bring it forward, not give time for it and not take action on it. That is cynical and is exploitation of the disabled. This motion recognises in a mature, sophisticated and absolutely necessary way that it is not good enough simply to give sympathy and funding. One must recognise that it is not adequate to recognise people's disabilities with funding alone but one must also state these are citizens, whose disabilities deprive them of employment and of care, as well as giving them a lesser chance in education and, consequently, they must be compensated for that.

Finally, I wish to note there was a really serious crisis in Rehab and the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, where disabled people were not just neglected but were exploited.

See this speech in context