Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. On 21 July, the Taoiseach introduced the six sectoral plans that were to be submitted to the Oireachtas in accordance with the Disability Act 2005. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, while speaking at the launch of the plans, encouraged Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas to engage in a full debate on the plans in the context of each House passing a resolution to give effect to them. It is regrettable, therefore, that we did not have a full debate before the plans were passed. The resolution was taken without debate.

It is unfortunate that the House was treated in such a shoddy fashion. Today's debate is welcome but it is taking place after the event and we should try to avoid that in future. There was widespread consultation on these plans but it would have been better if we had been given an opportunity to discuss them. It is noteworthy that apart from the Minister of State's contribution to this debate and a brief contribution he made in the other House last July, no other Minister has spoken about the sectoral plans in the Houses. More importantly, they have not addressed the committees on the plans. Where is the accountability? This anomaly must be rectified, even at this late stage, and I ask the Minister of State to make arrangements for the appropriate Ministers in the six relevant Departments to appear before the relevant committees to discuss the plans. An annual review must also take place.