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

Prior to the last election five years ago, the then leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, Deputies Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore were asked what their priority issue was and both said it was rights for people with disabilities, particularly the rights of families of children with special needs. This Government has repeatedly introduced legislation in a matter of weeks, with some Bills going through all Stages in a single day, but legislation that would empower and protect people with disabilities and give them tangible and clearly defined rights has not been enacted.

I note what the Minister of State said about enthusiasm and energy. In fairness, the current Minister and Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality have been in office for just over a year and a half. However, collectively, this Government has failed to address this issue. There are only a few months left in this Government's term and I do not understand why we cannot proceed to ratify the aforementioned convention. What is objectionable within the convention? Why can we not ratify it? Is it a case of civil servants, yet again, in the ear of the Minister of State saying that there may be unknown or unforeseen consequences and urging caution instead of proceeding and doing what is right? This should have been done many years ago.

See this speech in context