James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Disability need not be an obstacle to success. These were the inspirational words of the late Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the most influential scientists of all time. He certainly proved his own statement. He also stated that he would not have survived without the high quality treatment provided to him by the NHS. I am the brother of a woman with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and the godfather to a young woman with Down's syndrome and have nothing but praise for our health system once it can be accessed. However, as The Irish Timesreported recently, Ireland has the worst accessibility for health care out of 35 countries. This lack of accessibility has consequences. It means thousands of children are being denied their potential. It means lower educational attainment, higher unemployment and increased poverty. It means family carers, parents, foster parents, grandparents and younger siblings are exhausted as a result of a lack of adequate respite, a circumstance all-too common in my own county of Wexford. This does not need to be the reality.

To embrace diversity and inclusion, one must not only create opportunity but one must make the opportunity accessible. One does that by putting in place supports to allow people with disabilities to not only survive but to thrive so that they have an equal and equitable opportunity to reach their full potential. Equality and equity for those with disabilities should not be treated as a privilege but as a right. There is rightly a conversation about inclusion around gender, race, sexuality, and age but this conversation must also embrace and include people with disabilities. I am glad that this conversation is happening here tonight.

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