Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

10:30 am

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

What upsets me is that they were disenfranchised from being canvassed by all political parties. I contacted the management company for asylum seeker units on Thursday and was told no politicians were allowed into these units to canvas the residents. My colleagues in Westmeath had also been in touch with the centre and had been told the same thing yet they managed to get in at weekends or during the evenings, when different management teams were on duty. I rang the Minister's office and got no reply, which is terrible. It is an outrage. I want the Minister to give us an answer in this House on how these people have been disenfranchised.

Regarding the Ryan report, Ms Christine Buckley was on radio this morning. It has been brought to my attention that 4,000 people with intellectual disabilities are still living in institutions. I can only describe them as human warehouses. We must show we are serious about respecting those who are more vulnerable by taking action and looking after them in our institutions. It is still going on and we have a responsibility.

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