Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too wish to acknowledge the good work of Deputy Thomas Byrne and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil in bringing this very important motion before the House this evening. I speak about people with different types of intellectual disabilities, little problems as we call them, as someone who is profoundly dyslexic. I have no problem in the world with admitting that. I know at first hand the difficulties it can create when it comes to learning. I know that when parents first receive diagnoses such as dyslexia or other intellectual problems, it is very upsetting. That is why the work of teachers, the early intervention of the special needs assistants, SNAs, various supports and interventions and diagnoses of the problems are all very important.

One of the most common things any person in this Chamber hears in their work as a public representative is that a constituent is looking for a diagnosis for his or her child's problem. Parents know there is a problem. To find a solution, one has to know exactly what is wrong. We cannot know what is wrong without a definition of the problem. There is one big mystery which I must put to the floor of this House. I would love to be smart enough to know the answer to it. What has gone wrong in this country in the past 20 years to give rise to all these various diagnoses? They are 100% real existing conditions. What is causing this in our children? What is the problem? I do not want to be alarmist but the first thing I think of is smartphones. Is this caused by new forms of modern communication? Are they affecting pregnant ladies and having an adverse effect on children? I do not mean to take away from what Fianna Fáil is trying to highlight in its motion. We have to look at the cause of the intellectual problems and difficulties which our children have now but which they did not have previously. Alternatively, is it the case that we are smart enough now to be able to put a label on everything, whereas in the past we were not and simply thought that one child was not as good as another? Is that what has made the difference? It is one of the mysteries I would love to know the answer to. I would love it if people could get to the bottom of it. I am sorry if I am eating into anyone else's time. I wish to support the motion in every way.

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