Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I have worked in Departments where the 3% quota has been filled and in Departments where it has not been filled. All types of excuses are offered as to why the 3% is not filled. I agree with Senator Quinn that it is a case of "think ability", not disability. There is great potential in everybody, regardless of one's disability. If one has a disability, one will generally be capable of something else. The encouragement of the capability rather than pointing to the disability is key. Jobs should be considered in the context of providing job satisfaction for somebody rather than saying, in a dismissive way, that the person cannot do the job, as I have heard on occasion in Departments. Another type of job might be ideally suited to the person's ability.

Yesterday and today, the thrust of Members' comments has been how to change how people think on this issue. We must strengthen and encourage people's thought processes to think of ability and what they can do, rather than sighing and moaning about it. The amendment is mild but then Senator Terry is a lady.