Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests in the Gallery. They are making a special effort. Tá fáilte rompu.

I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this important motion. I think of the words of the Tánaiste, the iar-Thaoiseach, who said that we are wasting time in here. He wants to shut down debate and deny the good people in the Gallery and their families all over the country the right to be heard. He said we should not be wasting time on debates like this. It is a very valuable and important debate. Our guests do not want to listen to empty words from me or anyone else; they want the services to which they are entitled. People with disabilities do not want to be discriminated against when they get a job or employment, or when they get a gig as an artist. I welcome Mr. Jackie Conboy, of the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland, MEAI, to the Gallery. That is what we need. Has this country got to the stage now that it will not provide services? The Minister of State has failed utterly to provide any services. Yet, the Tánaiste lectures us and states that we should not even raise these issues in the House. Should we just shut down this Chamber and forget the people all together? The order to go to hell or to Connacht is back again.

There are many families on disability benefits. We heard earlier about the €5 increase in disability allowance and the €5 increase in the weekly rent contribution for a claimant on social welfare benefits. How cruel-hearted and cruel-minded have we become? The system is so unwieldy. I have read stories of families waiting for ten years to get supports. Deputy Verona Murphy recently highlighted the case of a child in Country Wexford who does not have a wheelchair that is suitable for him. We know about Cara Darmody from Ardfinnan, who fundraised for Ardfinnan National School and Scoil Chormaic Special School to provide access to services and therapies for students with additional needs. I salute the volunteer groups around the country, and, in particular, Positive Steps Together in Caisleán Nua. The organisation has set out on a journey to fundraise for a respite unit for the local people. These organisations do not want us to pay lip service to them; they want support. They want us, as advocates for them, to raise these issues here in the Parliament to which we are elected. We should not be shut down by the Tánaiste or anybody else.

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