Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do have a view on it. My view is that we do not have a clear understanding of disabilities. All of us talk about awareness, but where is the understanding? The understanding of disabilities is that every one of us who reaches 50 years of age will be dependent on a piece of assistive technology to get us through our day. That is an acknowledgement and an understanding, but for people who have profound or complex disabilities, a physical or mental disability or who is neurodiverse, we must understand how to have inclusion and participation within the workforce and what accommodations can be put in place, be it within the public sector, to ensure a person can have an active, meaningful participation in work. As Deputy Moynihan knows, that is one of the pillars that lifts a person out of poverty.

The most important piece here is the engagement that will have to happen within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The working week needs to be reduced from 19 hours to 14 hours so more people are able to participate in the workforce. Until we change that lever, regardless of our terminology, we will not have more people participating. That lever needs to be changed, and that is within the gift of our Departments.

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