Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ways in which disabled persons are supported to partake in public life and activities such as politics and policymaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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There are over 650,000 people in Ireland with a disability. As one campaigner said, participation does not mean them coming along to a weekly meeting and telling their stories. We should be encouraging full participation in all aspects of political and social life. What steps is the Minister taking in this regard?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports people with disabilities through a range of initiatives, and particular priority is given to removing barriers to, and supporting people in, active participation in public life, politics and policymaking. I watched the meeting of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which had an active conversation on the subject. It continued to the Make Way Day conversation.

I am currently advancing the preparation of the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill, which will provide for an amendment to section 41 of the Electoral Act 1992 to make it easier for persons with intellectual disabilities to stand for election to Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and the European Parliament.

The national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, now extended until the end of 2022, has been one of the primary vehicles for supporting the participation of people with disabilities in public life. It takes a whole-of-government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities both in a practical sense and in creating the best possible opportunities for people with disabilities to fulfil their potential.

My Department co-ordinates this strategy and I chair the NDIS steering group. The steering group membership includes the disability stakeholder group, a voluntary group of individuals with expertise and lived experience of disability, who participate in monitoring the implementation of the strategy. For that group, Covid has changed the dial of our engagement and understanding. There has also been a complete awareness and willingness of Departments to come to the table and find solutions to break down the barriers. I compliment those from the Office of Public Works, OPW, and the Department of Education who have attended recent meetings and shown their willingness to work with the members involved to break down the barriers. I also compliment the Oireachtas on setting up the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which has lent a voice and put an emphasis on disability in these Houses.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I am glad to hear there is evidence of interdepartmental co-operation, which is sadly lacking in most aspects of Government life here. I hope that continues because it is vital to ensure that all voices are heard, especially for a sector that makes up such a large part of our society, but unfortunately is largely hidden and not seen or noticed by us policymakers.

I heard at a committee meeting that 24% of people with disabilities have difficulty even accessing their ability to vote and 52% who have postal votes have difficulties in using that facility. Some 55% have difficulty contacting a public representative. I have a role in ensuring we are more accessible to people and I will be working to ensure that is the case. The Government can do a considerable amount and I am glad that it is making progress. However, that needs to continue and it needs to be strengthened because we must make politics accessible, as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outlines.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy mentioned the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Its ratification in 2018 marked an important milestone in the process of strengthening the rights of people with disabilities. the Deputy spoke about electoral reform. Dr. Vivian Rath produced a document. He has the lived experience and he was able to bring people with him to inform our committee meetings of the barriers to understanding. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his team have worked to ensure that access to polling would be one of the main barriers to be removed. We also need to be ambitious and move beyond it and encourage people to participate in the electoral process at local authority level and at national level to have their voices heard.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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One of the participants at the committee noted that the party whip system further prevents many disabled people from speaking the truth when they disagree with policies that affect them. Impaired people with disabilities may fear they will get lost in the party system with no avenue to ensure their perspectives are fully considered. This is surely an indication that being an Independent is the way to go as it allows people to work independently on behalf of everybody. Does the Minister of State have any comment on how the party whip system works for people with disabilities?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That is a fantastic question. I ask him to consider my voice within a three-party government. I would like to think I have a significant advocacy role for persons with disability. The Taoiseach put me working with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. It would not be possible to have two more open-minded people within that Department who are strong advocates for inclusion and equality for persons with disability. I would like to think that our leaders and our parties have disabilities at the centre of their agenda at all times. Coming up to the budgetary process, I wrote to all Ministers to ensure that they disability-proofed their budgets. In advance of the publication of the national development plan, I wrote to ensure they proofed their budgetary submissions. Equality and inclusion for persons with disabilities is front and centre of our role in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. People with disabilities are well represented and their voices are well heard.