Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I have sympathy with Senator Terry's viewpoint, though that does not mean I will support her amendment. Building regulations are now quite demanding. Any current planning application for a house must allow for a conversion in the future, if that were to be needed for a person with a disability. No doubt Senator Terry feels that if no legislative demand for disability access is made, people will feel they need not comply. That is a fair point when we are trying to raise standards for public facilities and ensure they are accessible for those with disabilities.

Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are ahead of their time, so to speak. The hope would be that as services become more open to those with disabilities, the onus will be on private bodies and groups to raise their standards too. The amendments are well designed but perhaps a little advanced in terms of what this legislation involves.