Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the optional protocol on disability, the previous Government, which I the privilege to lead as Taoiseach, signed the UN convention. The current Government made a commitment to ratify the optional protocol. We will do so. Earlier today, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, received approval from the Cabinet to establish the interdepartmental working group to make that possible. That has been decided, and we will honour that commitment in the programme for Government.

Following on from her budget announcement, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has announced that a review of the means test and the system of payments to carers is under way. Those are very meaningful things.

As is always the case, the Deputy misrepresented what I said. I said nothing at all about vulnerable people. I said that parents have responsibilities to their children, that families have responsibilities to each other and that care is a shared responsibility. It involves families, the State and everyone else being involved in doing what is best and what is right for those who need care. Any right-thinking and reasonable person would agree.

See this speech in context