Aideen Hayden (Labour)

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and Senators Cummins and Bacik on their respective appointments. I also congratulate Senator Paul Coghlan on his appointment as the Fine Gael Party Whip.

While I support Senator Moran's call for a debate on the issue of people with disabilities, I ask that the discussion be widened to include Ireland's failure to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I bring to the attention of Senators an article in today's edition of The Irish Times which reports that Inclusion Ireland has highlighted the fact that increasing numbers of parents with mild disabilities are having their children removed from them by the State. The organisation also pointed out that many parents in such circumstances would be capable of keeping their children if they were provided with appropriate supports by the State. The House must be concerned about this issue, especially given that all available evidence shows that parents should be supported to help them be the first and primary carers of their children. I ask, therefore, for the motion to be extended to include the wider issue of ratification of the UN convention