Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the Bill, which I regard as a worthwhile step in the direction of treating, with the proper concern, the needs of those of our fellow citizens who have disabilities of one kind or another. I have got out of the habit of using the word "disability" and I almost swore that I would not use it anymore. I was very impressed by the efforts of those involved in the ability awards scheme, which highlights that people with disabilities are also people with abilities. I accept it is not possible to use the word "ability" in place of that of "disability" in every instance but trying to use it as much as possible sends a welcome message. The work done by organisations such as the Aisling Foundation to inform employers about the abilities of people who they might have otherwise regarded as being somewhat lacking because they have disabilities is to be commended. The foundation has done marvellous work and the Minister has supported it in many ways.

What impresses me about those who are in need of help is that, whereas in the past those experiencing difficulties formed groups and sent emissaries to Dublin to seek assistance, they now form such groups and then decide to take action themselves. They still seek support from the Government in Dublin but they tend to help themselves. The Minister has recognised such self-help initiatives in the legislation because it is now the intention to provide support.

The Bill recognises the need of the State to reach out to people with disabilities and to meet their needs more than halfway. Our history in dealing with these people has not been particularly happy and has been characterised by the less than pretty sight of very human needs coming into full frontal collision with the inflexible face of bureaucracy. Much of the heat that has been generated by the issue of disability has been caused by the lack of humanity that has been applied in approaching the question.

A key aspect of the Bill before us is the proposal to rename Comhairle as the citizens information board. This may appear to be a matter of cosmetics — the Minister outlined the facts very well in this regard — but it is not; it goes to the very heart of the need to reach out to the people on this matter and to speak to them in a language they understand. I share with many people an affection for having the names of State bodies in Irish but not when this gets in the way of communicating clearly the function and purpose of a body, as unfortunately happened in this case. There were many people who came within the remit of Comhairle who had no idea the organisation was intended to meet their needs. This is a valuable change.

I was involved with An Bord Phoist approximately 20 years ago. The first thing we decided to do was change the name. We arrived at a name "An Post", which does not need to be translated. To a certain extent, I set a challenge to every Irish organisation establishing operations as to whether it is possible for it to have a name that can be read in both languages and in respect of which an English translation is not required.

I am also delighted to note that even in today's Stalinist-like atmosphere created by the Official Languages Act, the Minister has found the courage to undo that mistake and make a fresh start. How we name things is important and it is a matter about which we should always think carefully. Another problem regarding Comhairle is its website, which brings together in one place all citizen-related information. This is an excellent idea, which I totally support, but the website was unduly hampered because it laboured under the obscure name of Oasis. I have no idea as to what that name was intended to convey and I hope we have seen the last of it.

Another pillar of the Bill is the concept of personal advocacy. I congratulate the Minister on this development, which I welcome. It is an attempt to redress the unfairness, which obtained for too long and under which people who did not have all their abilities were expected to jump through an impossible succession of hoops and obstacles in an attempt to have their needs properly met. The most unfair aspect was that, by reason of their disabilities, many people were unable to negotiate those hoops and obstacles, while the bureaucracy was able to sniffily observe its requirements had not been met. This led many people to press for a rights-based approach to disability legislation because they saw it as the only possible way to overcome the obstacles faced by people with disabilities. They may well be right. However, I have always felt there was nothing the situation needed that could not be provided by a modicum of reasonableness and a touch of humanity, helped along the way, of course, by a little more money. Now that we have the resources to do what until recently was impossible, some of these apparently immovable obstacles can be expected to disappear. Given that we have the money which we did not previously possess and which delayed progress for so long, it would be tragic if we could not also supply the degree of reasonableness and humanity that are also required.

There is a world of difference between, on one hand, putting obstacles in people's way and, on the other, going out of one's way to help and make matters easy for them. I was recently honoured to become patron of the Irish Association of Supported Employment, IASE. I am conscious of the difference of approach to which I refer, particularly when I discuss the question of supported employment with other employers. For some individuals, the idea of employing people with disabilities — which is the most pressing need for many people with such disabilities — is problematical and burdensome. It is a matter about which some people would rather not think. However, I and many other employers have discovered that people with disabilities also possess abilities. For example, people with bad hearing often possess good eyesight and vice versa. Employers must seek out people's abilities and concentrate, strengthen and support these. The ability to allow them to do so is provided for in the Bill.

In contrast, however, those who have a more open approach and follow their instincts are invariably rewarded by an experience that enriches everyone affected by it. When an employer takes on a person who perhaps would not have been his or her first choice because of the existence of a disability, his or her initiative garners support from other employees. People feel good when working with those to whom I refer, particularly in terms of seeing them improve, gain, grow in stature and blossom. It also has a positive effect on customers. Customers, colleagues, other employees and suppliers often state that a company is worth supporting because it is doing good through employing those with disabilities. The really clever people in business are those who realise it makes very good business sense to develop employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In the end, the person who benefits most is the employer.

I wish the Bill every success and hope it will pass into law speedily. If any amendments are brought forward, I am sure the Minister will give them careful consideration because the objective behind them will be to improve what he is setting out to achieve in this legislation.