Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----from transport, to work, to education and right across the board. One of the bigger areas that I am interested in - I am interested in all areas of special needs and disability - is employment. That area needs to be worked on much more pro-actively in getting agencies and Government Departments employing more people more quickly in respect of disabilities.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn raised the area of appointments, and these were transparent and in line with the legislation. He said that he put forward an amendment. There was a debate in the House on that amendment and his amendment lost. There comes a time when the Deputy must also accept parliamentary democracy at work. The two people concerned have considerable expertise in the area of environment and climate and have considerable academic experience which the Deputy seems to have ignored. He accused the Government of playing the man and not the ball. I argue from the outset of this that he has attempted to create a controversy and undermine the reputation of the individuals concerned and that is not fair.

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