Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I second the amendment and welcome the Minister of State. We all know the publication of the Disability Bill 2001 immediately gave rise to various groups and individuals expressing concerns with the result that the Bill was withdrawn. In the eye of a storm, it is brave to go back to the drawing board.

The Government is bringing forward a variety of changes in a harmonised manner. This Bill supports the enhancement of service provisions for people with disabilities and the principle of mainstreaming in legislation. This will require public bodies to promote equality through their policies and programmes by delivering services to those with disabilities in the same way as they are provided for everybody else. The Bill provides for positive action to remove obstacles which hinder the participation of people with disabilities.

A number of other pieces of legislation are part of the Government's overall strategy to put in place the necessary supports to ensure equal participation of people with disabilities. Arising from lengthy consultations and overseen by the Cabinet Sub-committee on Social Inclusion, the Bill will give statutory effect to a number of important policies. These include priorities such as the right to the assessment of needs and independent redress. This is the first time the State has ever done something like this and it is a very important part of the legislation. I am absolutely delighted that, in this Bill, people with disabilities will be prioritised over able-bodied people looking for State services.

The other legislation which will form part of the co-ordinated framework for the disability sector has already been outlined by the Minister. The first is the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003. It lays down a statutory framework to address the needs of those with educational disabilities. It also provides for the establishment of a national council for special education. There was a debate in this House a few months ago on autism in which such a provision was demanded. The second is the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill which sets out the provision of advocacy assistance to help people with disability to access social services. The third is the Equality Bill which will put measures in place to increase the responsibility of the employer to facilitate employees with disabilities.

We know how important a job is to a person with a disability. It has a great social value attached to it. People with a disability are somewhat limited in their social outlets. A job gives a person with a disability a social outlet and a reason to go on. It is also very important that a safe work environment exists for people with disabilities. It is great to see officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, together with Minister of States, such as Deputy O'Dea, meeting the different groups to thrash out the various problems involved.

This Bill must be set in the context of important recent developments. Last year was the European Year of People with Disabilities. I have seen the efforts of the National Disability Authority to generate an awareness across the country of people with disabilities. The memorable success of the Special Olympics demonstrated the value of creating awareness about disability issues.

I thank the Labour Party for raising this very important issue which allows us to recommit ourselves to bringing forward a whole series of changes, in addition to the disability Bill, for those who suffer from disability. I also remind the Labour Party that the Government put major resources into this area at a time when money was available. This was not done by previous Governments. It is easy to come before the House and shout about what should be done. When others had a chance, they did not address it. I am glad this Government is doing it and nobody need doubt the Government's commitment to disability.