Results 721-740 of 1,755 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I want to put that on the record. I also want to thank the Cathaoirleach and other colleagues for attending yesterday's event with AsIAm on autism awareness. I welcome the Houses of the Oireachtas initiative that involves all of the parliamentary community taking up autism training. I ask all Members of the Seanad and their staff to take up that training over the next number of months. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Business of Joint Committee (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Apologies have been received from Deputies Joan Collins and Marc Ó Cathasaigh, and from Senators Róisín Garvey and Catherine Ardagh. Before we start our business, I will read some formal notices. All those present in the room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. I remind members of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome all of our witnesses to our meeting here today. We are joined by Davida Hartman, clinical director, The Adult Autism Practice; Tara O'Donnell, CEO and Jessica Doyle, co-director, Thriving Autistic; Nem Kearns and Cír Doyle, co-founders of Neuro Pride Ireland; and Blessing DaDa, mental health activist. I ask the meeting to note that Blessing has to leave at 12 noon to attend...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I now invite Ms O'Donnell-Killen from Thriving Autistic to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the witness and call Nem Kearns and Cír Doyle from Neuro Pride Ireland to make their opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Thank you, Nem. I call Blessing Dada, a mental health advocate, to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Ms Dada very much. I am conscious of the fact she has another meeting at 12 noon. I will ask committee members to ask any questions they have for her in particular. We will go according to the question slots.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I call on Senator Black, who is standing in for Senator Flynn.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Ms Dada. The event she will be attending is being run by the Mental Health Commission. I thank her for being such an advocate. It is important to have people who stand up to be advocates for their communities. I say well done and thank for her for attending the committee, engaging with the members and answering their questions. I thank everybody for allowing me 20 minutes for Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I will let in Nem Kearns there. They are looking to get in online.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I think Cír Doyle wanted to come in there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: Very good. I invite Ms Hartman to come in briefly for 30 seconds, please, as I am conscious of the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Ms Hartman. The transition from primary school to secondary level and then from there to third level was mentioned. We have a group of students from Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School, County Longford, and they will attest to this. We can understand the difficulty for someone on the autism spectrum moving between schools. I met people from a school at an enterprise competition recently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: The launch that is taking place should tell us more about the direction in which we are going to in regard to the Decision Support Service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I will let Nem and Cír in. They had indicated. We will take Cír first this time, to switch it around.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Nem. I indicated at the beginning that if time was just going on we would take a break, but it is just me left to speak and Senator Black wants to come back in with a question. Would the witnesses prefer we take a break now or will we continue for another ten or 15 minutes? We will continue then. I call Senator Black.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: For all of us on the committee a common theme is the word "silo". The silos that exist in the system is a recurring theme. Finding a mechanism to break down those silos and having cohesive action is important. Someone mentioned the idea of society understanding and accepting this condition. It is a huge challenge for us to make broader society aware of the issue. I am the parent of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I have a similar way of thinking. Something I probably said 12 months ago is that I do not like the term "disorder". Someone on the autism spectrum is not someone with a disorder, as Ms O'Donnell-Killen says. Unfortunately, some people seem to think that title is needed to be able to get services. I was attacked on social media for actually putting that view out there. It is not a disorder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I have another question. We have discussed the Disability Act 2005. I feel very strongly that we need to review and change it. It contains a provision that gives a right for an assessment but there is no right for a service. As we all know, even when people do get an assessment of needs, the back-up service is not there. What are the witnesses views or thoughts on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Micheál Carrigy: I call Nem Kearns to speak first and then Cír Doyle.