Dáil debates

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Personal Assistance Service: Motion

 

9:55 pm

Photo of Dessie EllisDessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this Private Members' motion. I thank the Independents 4 Change group and Deputy Pringle for bringing up for debate in the Dáil this important issue.

9 o’clock

I also welcome people in the Gallery from Independent Living Movement Ireland.

There are thousands of people with a disability across Ireland and some are to be found in my constituency of Dublin North-West. Many of these people face great hardships and struggles because of their disability in their home, in the community, and out and about in their daily lives. The one thing we do not need to do is to make it harder for those with disabilities.

It is difficult for many people without disabilities to lead normal and productive lives in the Ireland of today and we can appreciate the obstacles those with disabilities have to overcome in their daily lives. People with disabilities want to live independently and have the freedom to make the same decisions and choices as everyone else in society and they should be given the means to do so. People with disabilities should have the same opportunities to realise their goals and have the same level of control over their lives as everyone else.

The ability to live independently can also lead to employment options and choices giving people a sense of value as well as being important to their well-being. A personal assistant gives people with a disability the freedom and flexibility to live their lives how they choose. Sinn Féin has been supportive of the rights of those with disabilities and we have a strong advocate for those with disabilities in our spokesperson on disability rights, Deputy Ó Caoláin.

The experts on the needs of people with a disability are those with a disability themselves and we need to listen to what they are asking for. We often take freedom of choice and self-determination for granted. People with a disability deserve the same such degrees of freedom of choice and self-determination.

People with a disability need to be fully included in the community and they should have the means and supports to enable them to be. A personal assistant allows persons with a disability to do all the tasks that they cannot do for themselves which allows them the freedom and flexibility to make their own choices as well to be full members of society.

We do not want to exclude people from our communities and it too easy to do so if they have a disability. Personal assistant services allow people to stay connected to their community and to live their lives as they choose.

I fully support the establishment of a commissioner for independent living. Personal assistant services should be a right for all those who require them, and to quote one person with a disability who uses such services, "Personal assistance is often the difference between existing and living for many of us."

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