Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Solidarity-People Before Profit for tabling this motion. It is important that we recognise that the voices of people with disabilities were heard and that thanks to their activism, the Green Paper was scrapped by the Government. That was the right thing to do. It is essential that all disability policy is centred on a human rights-led approach and that people are listened to. I want to raise the issue of respite in Galway. It was good to see that two weeks ago, we saw the opening of Summer Lodge Respite House and Four Seasons day services. That was very positive but it was long and hard fought for. We can already see the impact it is having on families across Galway, which was extremely evident on the day of the opening as well.

We are all too aware of the challenges faced by many families who are unable to access respite, including many in Galway. Many of them have come to me and, I am sure, to everyone in this Chamber, and said that, had they regular access to respite, it would make a world of difference to them. Additional challenges have been created because of that lack of access. This should not be the case. It is something that we need to take seriously in this Dáil. We also need to look at initial assessments and at more family support solutions, such as evening hubs to allow families to be able to work full-time. These are all issues that consistently come up with me in my office and indeed across Galway.

We also need to look at this place we are in now. We need to look at the Dáil, the Seanad and indeed the Houses of the Oireachtas in their entirety. This is the place that votes and decides on legislation that impacts on everyone. It is absolutely essential that it becomes far more representative of wider society. We need to look at what barriers there are to disabled people who want to be elected and for those who want to work in this building. The way this Green Paper was handled has shown that there is a long way to go. We need to make sure that the views of disabled people are heard loud and clear. We need to look at this Chamber and at this as a workplace.

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