Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The simple fact of the matter is that it is within the Government's power to address the issues faced by people with disabilities. It does not need a referendum to fully staff the children's disability network teams, to provide more personal assistance hours, to replace the transport schemes that Fine Gael scrapped over a decade ago or to ratify the optional protocol. Every year, when we come in here for the budget, I go straight to the section of the budget on disability. Year after year, there is no meaningful attempt to address the disgraceful and shameful absence of the provision of the bare minimum of services for disabled people.

I am sure the Minister has heard the expression, "Show me your budget and I will tell you your priorities." It is clear that disability services are not prioritised. Ratifying the optional protocol would be a clear signal of intent for a step change in the direction of this and successive Governments on disability services.

Ireland was the last country in Europe to ratify the convention. Six years after that and four years into this term of Government, the Government has said it will do it in this term. It has 12 months left and is talking about reports and all of these things. Are we any closer? In answer to my original question, can the Minister name the date?

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