Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the statements on this important matter. I thank the Minister of State for his speech and for attending the House for the entire debate. In his opening remarks he referred to the fact that the sectoral pans were approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas, having been presented on 17 and 18 October. The Minister of State will know, however, that the motion to pass the sectoral plans appeared on the Order Paper and was not debated. We are, therefore, now in a post hoc situation, debating sectoral plans after they have been passed. Other Senators have said that this is not in the spirit of the legislation. The legislation has received detailed scrutiny, dedication and commitment from many Members of both Houses. It is clear to us that the sectoral plans constitute an important part of the spirit and implementation of the legislation as envisaged.

It was disappointing, to say the least, that the sectoral plans were not debated before they were passed. Senators should have been given an opportunity not only to express their views but also those of people who have made representations to us on these issues. The Minister of State says the plans were passed by both Houses, which is true, but he may or may not be aware that we voted on that matter last week because the Opposition was not happy to have the plans passed without debate. We are now commenting on plans that have already been passed and while that is useful, it is by no means as powerful, representative or important as debating such plans beforehand. A process is required whereby Members can comment on sectoral plans before they are passed.

The Minister of State rightly says that these plans have been the subject of major consultations with a broad number of people, including the stakeholders involved. Be that as it may, a key part of the process went missing. It is now time to move on, however, and examine where we are. The sectoral plans are the nuts and bolts or the meat on the bones of the Disability Act and will make the legislation work in practice. As the Disability Federation of Ireland has pointed out, the plans represent the roadmaps for the six Departments to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities, and disability issues generally, are not only prioritised but also become part of those Departments' daily operations. That must be the aim of the legislation.

Let us examine the delivery and effectiveness of the sectoral plans. Those of us who have contact with Departments, whether as public representatives, former departmental employees or representatives of lobbying organisations, will know that aspiration is one thing but delivery is another. I would not question for one minute the commitment of any member of the Government or Opposition to dealing with disability issues. Every Member of the Oireachtas is fully committed to advancing the cause of people with disabilities. I commend the Disability Federation of Ireland on being an effective lobby group in that regard. It has made a major contribution to the entire process by ensuring, inter alia, that Members of the Oireachtas are kept fully informed of developments in the sector. In that way, we can hold the Government to account in this respect. The views of groups such as the Disability Federation of Ireland need to be taken on board and I am sure the Minister of State has had meetings with its representatives.

How will these sectoral plans go beyond being just plans and become reality? This is where the Government's commitment is tested because it must become a practical and solid reality. One way of achieving this would be to integrate the plans with various Departments' strategic plans. I note that this has already been done in one case involving the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which is to be commended on that. To my knowledge, however, it is the only Department that has done so.

The situation will not be ideal until those sectoral plans become enmeshed and embedded with the existing strategic plans of all Departments. Otherwise, each Department will have a daily "to do" list, while every now and then the sectoral plans will arise with people asking where we are we in relation to disability or how this impacts on disability. In that case, such issues may be considered regularly if we are lucky but they should be acted upon all the time. There should be a standard, learned response to disability issues, whereby people will ask how decisions impact on people with disabilities. We need to consider whether decisions, actions and policies are disability proofed in every case. We must continue campaigning until that happens. It should be taken for granted that in meetings of high level strategic management groups, Department officials and Ministers discuss the impact of their policies on people with disabilities. If that does not happen on a daily basis, we have to ask whether integration is really taking place. It will not be easy to make it happen in respect of every group because a high level of commitment will be required. This is but one example of how the sectoral plans need to be stitched into strategic and operational management at senior departmental level.

Today's debate, which is being held thanks to the generosity of the Leader of the House and the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, is important in that regard. However, while this House has shown its commitment to the issue, who knows when we will return to it? Issues pertaining to the sectoral plans and disability in general should form a larger part of the business conducted in these Houses by, for example, Oireachtas committees. Every year, the Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has opportunities to discuss communications issues with representatives of An Post and other major organisations. It would be useful if committees, on an annual or ongoing basis, were also to hold Departments to account for their implementation of sectoral plans. Without a specific focus on accountability by a body such as an Oireachtas committee, a drift is inevitable. Departments should have ownership in terms of implementing these plans.

Members regularly assist people with disabilities to surmount the disadvantages and exclusion they suffer in terms of employment, housing and services. The legislation we have introduced is designed to transform this situation, so that people with disabilities receive the support they need to fully participate in the community at whatever level they choose. I am reminded in the context of this debate of somebody I know, who because of the nature of his disability is forced to live at home and is unable to work because he does not have a personal assistant. He is virtually blind, so he finds it difficult to go out on his own, even though he is a very capable and confident person. His life has narrowed to his home because he does not have a personal assistant and cannot go out without support. His rights, therefore, are being radically impacted on by his disability. He is not the only one to face such a challenge. We have a long road to travel to ensure that people with disabilities are able to participate. For many people, that means working, so employment is an obvious place to start meeting public targets.

It is one matter to introduce legislation or to show the determination to meet commitments but the test of these plans will be evidence of the delivery of these commitments to the people on the ground. I commend the Minister of State and the Government on their commitment in that regard but their promises will have to be measured in terms of quality of life for people with disabilities.