Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I speak particularly about buildings in receipt of lottery money. When being built, I would have thought that theatres, for example, would have been in receipt of or have applied for lottery funds.

Concerning the general point about sectoral and general plans and how they are referred to in this section in terms of measures being put forward to ensure Departments are disability-friendly, I sense from the Minister of State's remarks that he is very committed. This would be an immediate attitudinal change and I commend the Minister of State's commitment but why is he not going as far as disability proofing? He might say we can call it what we like but the terminology and language we use is important. If the Government makes a statement that the requirement of Departments to plan for disability proofing is contained in this legislation, it is a powerful statement. Anything less is not adequate to meet the Minister of State's level of commitment. If he is so committed, why not say there will be disability proofing?

As has been pointed out in submissions made to us by the Disability Federation of Ireland, disability proofing is contained in other legislation. This type of structure is contained in the Government's commitment to the Irish language in terms of a commissioner under the Official Languages Act 2003, which has been the subject of much comment. Why not have a disability commissioner and disability proofing? It was in one of our previous amendments but is important in the context of this discussion. The Minister of State might tell us to call it what we will but this is not enough. Language is extremely important because it both reflects and creates one's intent. The intention is not as strong without disability proofing included in this legislation.